The recent Lancet report delivers the study disclosing a distinct connection between the amounts of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) – minuscule particles significantly tinier than a human hair – and the development of antibiotic resistance (
).
For every 1 percent rise in
, the escalation in antibiotic resistance varies between 0.5 percent to 1.9 percent, contingent upon the specific pathogen.
Lead author of the study, Professor Hong Chen from Zhejiang University, China, underscores that both antibiotic resistance and air pollution pose significant threats to global health.
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This research underscores the dual advantage of curbing air pollution – not only would it mitigate the detrimental impacts of poor air quality, but it could also effectively combat the proliferation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
The areas with the highest antibiotic resistance levels are North Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia, whereas Europe and North America exhibit lower levels. In 2018 alone, approximately 480,000 premature deaths were attributed to antibiotic resistance linked to air pollution.
China and India, owing to their substantial populations, are particularly susceptible, as changes in PM2.5 levels significantly impact their premature mortality rates due to antibiotic resistance.
The study identifies PM2.5 as a pivotal contributor to antibiotic resistance, attributing 11 percent of global variations in resistance levels to this factor. In contrast, health expenditures and access to drinking water services account for 10 percent and 3 percent, respectively, of such variations.
Absence of alterations in existing air pollution policies would lead to a projected 17 percent surge in global antibiotic resistance by 2050, resulting in around 840,000 yearly untimely deaths due to resistance-related causes.
However, embracing a policy recommended by the World Health Organization to cap PM2.5 levels at 5 micrograms/m³ could yield a 23 percent reduction in premature deaths associated with antibiotic resistance, thereby preventing around 630,000 fatalities.
The researchers acknowledge data limitations, particularly in low- and middle-income nations, which bear the brunt of the antibiotic resistance crisis.
Reference :
- Association between particulate matter (PM)2·5 air pollution and clinical antibiotic resistance: a global analysis – (https:www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/article/PIIS2542-5196(23)00135-3/fulltext)
Source: Medindia
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