A last-resort antibiotic used against deadly bacterial infections has lost its power in China, and the gene for that resistance is jumping between different bacterial species—spreading from pigs and chickens to people. This matters because antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is now considered the biggest global threat to human health in the 21st century. Most studies so far have been small and one-dimensional, focused only on resistant bacteria rather than the whole bacterial population. This project takes a holistic approach, sampling humans, farm animals, flies, wild birds, water, soil, and waste across four Chinese provinces—including one control region—every three to six months. Researchers will sequence the DNA of bacteria from these samples to track how resistance moves between sectors, and will also sequence the human gut microbiome to understand the dynamics of resistant bacterial populations. If successful, this work will reveal the true burden and cost of drug-resistant infections to China’s health system, and measure the impact of China’s 2017 ban on colistin use in animal feed. It will also model the economic consequences for the poultry and pig trade. The findings could guide policies to slow the spread of resistance globally.
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Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is now deemed to be the biggest global threat facing humanity in the 21C. AMR has taken center stage as a global health issue yet most non-specialists are unaware the impact AMR will have on global populations and the potential it has of taking the treatment of infections back to the "dark ages". Therefore, in keeping with the general notion of "One World Health", there clearly needs to a better alignment of thinking and closer co-operation between countries synergizing activities, knowledge and skills to better understand and prevent AMR. Hitherto, most studies around the world studying the impact of AMR have been small, one dimensional and often biased - too focused on AMR bacteria as oppose to studying the whole bacterial population. Two years ago, we published an article with our Chinese colleagues heralding the breech of the last antibiotic, colisitin, that is used to treat the very serious infections caused by already resistant bacteria such as Escherichia coli (commonly known as E. coli). The difference with this new discovery is that the mechanism of colistin resistance (named MCR-1) is mobile i.e. can be readily passed around from one bacteria to another - even between distantly related bacteria. This article reached global acclaim and has been cited over 1000 times reflecting its broad impact. Following on from this discovery and using the same network of Chinese colleagues, hospitals, farming and environmental sectors, we intend to use MCR (MCRPE) and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (E. coli and E. coli-like bacteria)(CRE) as markers to understand how AMR has spread throughout the Chinese human and animal populations (colistin is used in animal feed in China). Firstly, we have a comprehensive sampling platform: work package (WP) 1, normal flora carriage; WP2, primary and secondary care infections; WP3, chicken, duck and pigs including slaughter houses; WP4, flies and wild birds; WP5, Water, soil and waste; WP6, Aquaculture; and WP7, Domestic animals. Pending the type of sample, we will analyze at least 100 samples every 3/6 months to examine seasonal variation and sample from three distinct provinces in China: Shandong, Guangdong and Jiangsu; additionally, we will also chose Qinghai as a control region. Bacteria will be analyzed by basic microbiology techniques and selected to be whole genome sequenced where we can interrogate the bacteria's whole DNA and compare it to other bacteria to see if they have spread from one sector (e.g. flies) to another (e.g. humans). This study will also sequence bacteria in the human gut (called the microbiome) to understand the dynamics of AMR bacterial populations. We will also undertake controlled experiments in chicken farms to monitor the spread on CRE and MRCPE and use mathematical models to understand how AMR spreads in animals. Importantly, the Chinese government has recently (2017) withdrawn the antibiotic colistin so this study is very timely in measuring that effect i.e. will withdrawing colistin impact on MCRPE rates in the environment, human gut levels and MCRPE causing human infections? Unlike previous studies, this study is deliberately holistic in its approach to understand the dynamics and transmission of AMR across a broad range of environmental and human sectors. This study will let us understand the impact of CRE and MCRPE on human populations and the burden and cost to the Chinese health system. It will also help us understand the impact AMR on the chicken, duck and pig trade by using mathematical models. The impact of this study will have immense consequences for the animal, human and economic sectors in China. Our network is well established, high successful and has a proven track record of working together in China and expertise to undertake this exciting and challenging proposal.
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