Prevalence of ESKAPE pathogens in the environment: Antibiotic resistance status, community-acquired infection and risk to human health

Int J Hyg Environ Health. 2022 Jul 13;244:114006. doi: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2022.114006. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTThe ESKAPE (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter spp.) pathogens are characterised by increased levels of resistance towards multiple classes of first line and last-resort antibiotics. Although these pathogens are frequently isolated from clinical environments and are implicated in a variety of life-threatening, hospital-associated infections; antibiotic resistant ESKAPE strains have been isolated from environmental reservoirs such as surface water, wastewater, food, and soil. Literature on the persistence and subsequent health risks posed by the ESKAPE isolates in extra-hospital settings is however, limited and the current review aims to elucidate the primary reservoirs of these pathogens in the environment, their antibiotic resistance profiles, and the link to community-acquired infections. Additionally, information on the current state of research regarding health-risk assessments linked to exposure of the ESKAPE pathogens in the natural environment, is outlined.PMID:35841823 | DOI:10.1016/j.ijheh.2022.114006
Source: International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Source Type: research