Study warns of high levels of antibiotic-resistant superbugs in Delhi air
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New Delhi: High concentrations of antibiotic-resistant superbugs in Delhi’s indoor and outdoor environments are posing serious public health risks, according to a recent study. The research highlights the growing concern over airborne microbial contamination, particularly antibiotic-resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes, in urban areas.
The study, conducted by researchers at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), examined the prevalence and diversity of staphylococci, including methicillin-resistant staphylococci (MRS), in bioaerosols from various urban settings in Delhi. Air samples from both indoor and outdoor locations showed staphylococcal loads significantly exceeding the World Health Organization’s recommended limits for microbial exposure.
Seasonal variations revealed that airborne MRS levels peaked during winter, while monsoon rains helped reduce outdoor bioaerosol contamination. The research assessed environments such as the Vasant Vihar Urban Slum (VVUS), Munirka Market Complex (MMC), Munirka Apartment (MA), and the Sewage Treatment Plant at JNU (STP, JNU).
The researchers, Himani Kumari and Madhuri Singh from JNU’s School of Environmental Sciences, identified eight staphylococcal species, with Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus arlettae being the most prevalent human- and animal-associated species, respectively.
Alarmingly, 73 per cent of MRS isolates displayed multidrug resistance (MDR), showing resistance to macrolides, beta-lactams, and other commonly used antibiotics. Genotypic analysis confirmed the presence of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in airborne MRS, encoding resistance to beta-lactam, trimethoprim, gentamicin, macrolides, chloramphenicol, and lincosamides. Among the MDR isolates, 14 out of 36 carried the mecA gene, which confers methicillin resistance.
“This study emphasises the potential health risks posed by airborne reservoirs of antibiotic resistance in urban environments and underscores the urgent need for comprehensive environmental antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance to develop effective mitigation strategies,” the researchers said.
The study stresses the critical importance of systematic monitoring and reporting of environmental AMR, including both antibiotic-resistant bacteria and their associated genetic markers, to accurately assess the threat and inform the development of integrated action plans to combat AMR in urban settings.
With IANS inputs