Danger of antibiotic-resistant 'bacteria' in the clouds

French and Canadian scientists, in their joint study, revealed that the clouds harbor antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

After the coronavirus pandemic, the warnings from scientists that new viral diseases could arise caused the whole world to worry. The latest research by French and Canadian researchers provided data to confirm these theses.

CLOUD WATER SAMPLES COLLECTED

Clouds can harbor and carry antibiotic-resistant bacteria over long distances, according to a new article published in the peer-reviewed scientific journal Science of The Total Environment and cited by Independent Turkish.

For the aforementioned research, which is also mentioned in the literature, various samples were collected from clouds at an altitude of 1,465 meters above sea level. In the analysis performed on these samples, it was determined that there were an average of 8,000 bacteria in one milliliter of cloud water. In addition, 29 subtypes of antibiotic-resistant genes were identified in bacteria.

According to experts in the research team, bacteria living on the surface of vegetation or in the soil are carried into the atmosphere by the wind and can reach high altitudes. On the other hand, at most 50 percent of these bacteria are alive and have a low probability of harming human health.

WHAT IS ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE?

Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria are exposed to a particular antibiotic group for a long time. Antibiotics that lose their effect on bacteria become dysfunctional and patients' recovery times are therefore prolonged.

While experts recommend avoiding the use of antibiotics unnecessarily in order to prevent antibiotic resistance, many states are taking precautions in this regard.

(Independent Turkish, Science of The Total Environment)