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    Scientists Look For Antibiotic-Resistant Germs In Raw Sewage

    To track the spread of bacteria that resist antibiotics, researchers are trying wastewater testing to get a fast, accurate picture.
    by Jonathan Lambert Mar 27, 2019 3 minutes
    Researchers tested sewage across Europe, including in Germany, where this treatment plant is located, for bacteria with resistance to antibiotics.

    Humanity is rapidly approaching a post-antibiotic era. Overuse of these miracle drugs has contributed to the emergence of many bacterial strains that are resistant to once-effective treatments.

    Our interconnected world and bacteria's ability to quickly swap genes that confer resistance with distant relatives make mapping hotbeds of resistance especially important.

    Where should we look?

    Sewage would be a good place to start, according to a study in the journal The paper highlights how tracking antibiotic-resistance genes in bacteria found in urban wastewater

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