Rapporto ISTISAN 21/3 - Environmental approach to antimicrobial resistance. Silvia Giardina, Sara Castiglioni, Gianluca Corno, Roberto Fanelli, Chiara Maggi, Luciana Migliore, Michela Sabbatucci, Giulio Sesta, Carlo Zaghi, Ettore Zuccato - ISS (EN)

Istituto Superiore di Sanità
Environmental approach to antimicrobial resistance.
Silvia Giardina, Sara Castiglioni, Gianluca Corno, Roberto Fanelli, Chiara Maggi, Luciana Migliore, Michela Sabbatucci, Giulio Sesta, Carlo Zaghi, Ettore Zuccato
2021, iii, 40 p. Rapporti ISTISAN 21/3 (in Italian)

Although a natural level of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is present in any microbial community, the excessive, protracted and improper use of antimicrobials in human and veterinary activities has favoured the development and spread of antimicrobial resistance throughout the planet. The abundance and diversity of resistance genes and resistant bacteria present in the environment are closely related to the local impact of anthropic activities involving the use or emission of antibiotics (livestock farms and intensive aquaculture facilities, urban and sanitary sewage). These antibiotics spread in the environment through multiple contamination pathways, both as unused active ingredients and as metabolites. In many countries there is no monitoring that can represent the dynamics of diffusion of AMR in the environment, a fundamental prerequisite for developing prevention and reduction actions. This report outlines the environmental impact of AMR in the Italian context and proposes priority actions aimed at facilitating the proper environmental management of this threat to health.
Key words: Antimicrobial resistance; Environment; Environmental contamination; Antibiotics; Risk assessment; Human health