Potential Environmental, Ecological and Health Effects of Soil Antibiotics and ARGs

Antibiotics are biologically active compounds and are widely used in humans and animals to prevent or treat microbial diseases. Antibiotic resistance is a direct result of antibiotic use. The occurrence and dissemination of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria (ARB) and antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) are recognized as a major public health concern. The effect of clinically relevant ARGs and ARB that are released from anthropogenic sources, along with the excessive use of antibiotics in both human and veterinary settings, is currently considered to be a serious environmental and ecological hazard. The resistant bacteria in the environment can lead to structural changes in the microbial cell, with potential toxic effects on the balance of natural ecosystems. Soil environment is primary media, declared as recipient/reservoir and source of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria of clinical concern. The antimicrobial resistance genes interacted within these bacterial contaminants can multiply in their hosts, then transfer to other bacterial populations and be subject to further development and progression in the bacterial community. Therefore, antimicrobial-resistant bacteria that occur in the environment represent serious risks for human health.