The study did not draw any conclusions on the potential health effects of the proliferation in the environment of antibiotic-resistant bacteria — estimating that only five percent to 50 percent of the organisms may be alive and potentially active.
But Rossi suggested the risk is likely to be low.
“The environment is very stressful for bacteria, and most of them we found were environmental bacteria,” which are less likely to be harmful to humans, he explained. “That’s why people shouldn’t be afraid to go for a walk in the rain.”
“It is not clear whether these genes would be transmitted to other bacteria,” Rossi said.
Atmospheric monitoring, however, could help pinpoint sources of drug-resistant bacteria — similar to wastewater tests for Covid-19 and other pathogens — “to limit their spread,” he said.