A study published in The Lancet Planetary Health examined the relationship between antibiotic resistance and air pollution, reports MTI-based The Guardian.
By examining data from nearly 20 years and more than a hundred countries, the researchers found that air pollution has increased worldwide, and at the same time, the development of antibiotic resistance, which seriously threatens health, has also increased.
Antibiotic resistance is responsible for around 1.3 million deaths worldwide.
A new study suggests that antibiotic resistance is primarily caused by the overuse and misuse of anti-infectives, but is also exacerbated by air pollution.
In 2018, about 480,000 people died due to antibiotic resistance linked to air pollution.
In their study, the researchers did not explain the exact scientific background of the connection, but they noted that airborne dust may contain antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which can enter the body through inhalation.
The authors also drew attention to the fact that, if air pollution is not mitigated, by 2050 antibiotic resistance could increase by an additional 17 percent worldwide.
