High Acquisition Rates of Antimicrobial Drug Resistance Genes after International Travel, the Netherlands. C. J.H. von Wintersdorff et al.
The genes that code for resistance in bacteria do not discriminate and can
be transferred from harmless to harmful bacteria and vice versa. Although
antibiotic resistance in harmful bacteria has been thoroughly studied, the
development of resistance genes in otherwise harmless bacteria could have
unpredictable and immense health consequences if transferred to harmful
bacteria. A study conducted in the Netherlands found that the risk of acquiring
such bacteria with those genes increases during international travel. Any
contact with food, water, soil, other people, or animals from foreign
environments provides opportunities for travelers to introduce many resistance
genes into their gastrointestinal tract. Although the consequences of acquiring
these genes are difficult to predict, it is possible that international
travelers could contribute to the spread of antibiotic resistance.
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