Author: Zina Alfahl, Lecturer in Bacteriology, University of Galway

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in waterways presents a critical threat. If commonly used antibiotics are deemed useless, decades of progress in human medicine and agriculture could be undermined. By 2050, AMR could cause 10 million deaths annually, according to the UN Environment Programme. But AMR is not just a human health issue. It also contributes to a decline in water quality and is exacerbated by water pollution, particularly from sources such as sewage and agricultural runoff. So, it’s a significant environmental concern with far-reaching implications. Addressing AMR in water is challenging because water systems are complex and can carry many different…