Fosfomycin Resistance: An Update on the Anthropogenic Impact Through Agriculture

TL;DR

This paper reviews how the use of fosfomycin in agriculture contributes to antibiotic resistance and highlights the need for better monitoring strategies.

Contribution

The paper provides an updated review on fosfomycin resistance mechanisms and their spread through agricultural practices.

Findings

Fosfomycin resistance genes have been detected in livestock and vegetables.

Agricultural practices like manure application and antibiotic use contribute to resistance spread.

Environmental factors like climate and soil conditions influence resistance gene presence.

Abstract

The extensive and often inappropriate use of antibiotics has led to the rapid emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance, reducing their effectiveness against pathogenic microorganisms. Fosfomycin has become an increasingly important therapeutic option in both human and veterinary medicine, particularly when other antibiotics fail. This review summarises current knowledge on the occurrence of fosfomycin resistance and evaluates the role of agricultural practices in its dissemination. Multiple microbial resistance mechanisms have been identified, including genes from the fosA, fosB, and fosC families, and new determinants continue to be reported. Agriculture contributes to the environmental spread of resistance through the use of antibiotics in food-producing animals, the exchange of resistant microorganisms between humans and animals, and the application of manure as fertiliser. Fosfomycin resistance genes have been detected in livestock such as pigs, chickens, pigeons, and cows, as well as in vegetables. Their presence in soil is influenced by fertilisation, nitrogen levels, microplastics, heavy metals, and pesticide application. Additionally, climate warming may facilitate the broader dissemination of fosfomycin resistance. Despite increasing evidence, current understanding remains limited. Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms driving the spread of fosfomycin resistance in agricultural environments and to develop effective monitoring strategies.

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