Combating Antimicrobial Resistance Through Student-Driven Research and Environmental Surveillance

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Environmental Science
• Public Health

Background:

• Antimicrobial resistance (AR) is a major global health crisis, threatening modern medical advancements.
• Current AR surveillance primarily focuses on infected patients, leaving environmental reservoirs of AR bacteria poorly understood.
• Environmental AR bacteria are found in water, food, sewage, and soil, posing potential risks to human health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish systematic global environmental surveillance for antibiotic resistance (AR).
• To identify geographical areas with high prevalence of AR bacteria.
• To engage students in real-world research addressing the AR crisis.

Main Methods:

• The Prevalence of Antibiotic Resistance in the Environment (PARE) project utilizes a classroom-based, modular research approach.
• Students worldwide participate in systematic environmental sampling and surveillance for AR bacteria.
• The project aims to lower institutional barriers to participation in course-based research.

Main Results:

• The PARE project facilitates global real-time surveillance of AR in the environment.
• Data generated informs understanding of AR bacteria prevalence and diversity in various environmental settings.
• Identifies hotspots of AR for targeted intervention strategies.

Conclusions:

• Environmental surveillance is essential for forecasting and preventing the spread of AR microbes.
• The PARE project effectively integrates education with impactful scientific data collection.
• Global collaboration through PARE empowers students and contributes vital data to combat the AR crisis.