Advancing sewage surveillance at mass gathering events for reducing transmission of antimicrobial resistant bacterial pathogens

• Published in: Travel medicine and infectious disease Vol. 54; p. 102619
• Main Authors: Sharma, Avinash, Karande, Mrunal, Zumla, Alimuddin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Ltd 01.07.2023; Elsevier Limited; Elsevier
• Subjects: Antibiotics; Antimicrobial agents; Antimicrobial resistance; COVID-19; Disease transmission; Gene transfer; Globalization; Health planning; Infection; Infectious Disease; Infectious diseases; Mass gatherings; MDR bacteria; Pathogenic bacteria; Pathogens; Pilgrimages; Pilgrims; Public health; Religion; Religious; Sewage; Sewage disposal; Sewage surveillance; Spread; Travel medicine; Water treatment; Infection; Spread; Religious; Antimicrobial resistance; Mass gatherings; Sewage surveillance; MDR bacteria
• ISSN: 1477-8939; 1873-0442; 1873-0442
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2023.102619

Mass gathering festival, sporting, and religious events pose significant strain on public health planning and response resources of the local community, locality, state, or nation hosting the event [1]. With the growing global problem of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and its potential of globalisation of AMR bacterial pathogens [2–5], there is an urgent need for proactive surveillance of transmission of pathogenic bacteria, instituting optimal infection prevention and control measures, and ensure appropriate use of antibiotics [4]. Water treatment can reduce bacterial load, but ARGs are undegradable, and horizontal gene transfer enables continuing spread in the environment.