An Overview of Antibiotic Resistance and Abiotic Stresses Affecting Antimicrobial Resistance in Agricultural Soils

Abdullah Kaviani Rad, Angelika Astaykina, Rostislav Streletskii, Yeganeh Afsharyzad, Hassan Etesami, Mehdi Zarei and Siva K. Balasundram
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Abdullah Kaviani Rad: Department of Soil Science, School of Agriculture, Shiraz University, 71946-85111 Shiraz, Iran
Angelika Astaykina: Eurasion Center for Food Security, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, Russia
Rostislav Streletskii: Soil Science Faculty, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, Russia
Yeganeh Afsharyzad: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Modern Sciences, The Islamic Azad University of Tehran Medical Sciences, 19496-35881 Tehran, Iran
Hassan Etesami: Department of Soil Science, University of Tehran, 14179-35840 Tehran, Iran
Mehdi Zarei: Department of Soil Science, School of Agriculture, Shiraz University, 71946-85111 Shiraz, Iran
Siva K. Balasundram: Department of Agriculture Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, University Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 8, 1-27

Abstract: Excessive use of antibiotics in the healthcare sector and livestock farming has amplified antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as a major environmental threat in recent years. Abiotic stresses, including soil salinity and water pollutants, can affect AMR in soils, which in turn reduces the yield and quality of agricultural products. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of antibiotic resistance and abiotic stresses on antimicrobial resistance in agricultural soils. A systematic review of the peer-reviewed published literature showed that soil contaminants derived from organic and chemical fertilizers, heavy metals, hydrocarbons, and untreated sewage sludge can significantly develop AMR through increasing the abundance of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARBs) in agricultural soils. Among effective technologies developed to minimize AMR’s negative effects, salinity and heat were found to be more influential in lowering ARGs and subsequently AMR. Several strategies to mitigate AMR in agricultural soils and future directions for research on AMR have been discussed, including integrated control of antibiotic usage and primary sources of ARGs. Knowledge of the factors affecting AMR has the potential to develop effective policies and technologies to minimize its adverse impacts.

Keywords: antibiotic resistance; antimicrobials; agriculture; livestock; abiotic stress; salinity; heat; soil pollutants; bioremediation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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