[Travellers and multi-drug resistance bacteria]

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health

Context:

• Increased international travel and medical tourism facilitate the global transport of human bacteria.
• Diverse traveller backgrounds and travel styles contribute to varied health risks.
• Emergence of antimicrobial resistance in common and exotic pathogens poses significant challenges.

Purpose:

• To review the risks associated with multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacterial infections in international travellers.
• To highlight the role of travellers in the global dissemination of antimicrobial resistance.
• To discuss the changing patterns of antibiotic resistance in key bacterial species.

Summary:

• International travellers can acquire and spread multi-drug resistant organisms (MDOs) like MRSA, MDR Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and ESBL-producing bacteria.
• Antimicrobial resistance in pathogens such as Shigella and Salmonella is a growing concern, particularly in developing countries.
• Both community-acquired and hospital-acquired infections with MDR bacteria are relevant to travellers.

Impact:

• Understanding these risks is crucial for developing effective prevention and control strategies for infectious diseases in travellers.
• This review informs healthcare providers and travellers about the potential health threats associated with global mobility.
• Highlights the need for enhanced surveillance and antimicrobial stewardship in the context of international travel.