Resistant Bacteria

On the one hand, we're going to find that bacteria are everywhere; they're living microorganisms that live all over the planet. Everything is connected: humans, animals, and the environment, so bacteria live in all environments and are in contact with each other. We need to think about that with a “One Health” perspective. When humans use antibiotics more, bacteria develop new methods to resist and survive them. This is transmitted across generations and in different environments. Nowadays, finding resistant bacteria in places close to humans is quite normal.

What do wild animals have to do with antibiotic resistance?

When we find antibiotic resistance in wild animals, we have to worry because it means that they have reached environments with little humanization. They serve as a “cintile” to know what the problem is today and help us understand bacteria's ecology and resistance dynamics.
It can be read at: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-57812-6

From the center has studied all this, and several samples have been taken over the years. The last article published provides more information about wild animals that have presented resistance in Costa Rica since the Jaguar Rescue Center has been carried out in collaboration.

What can we do?

The most important way to help with this problem is to collaborate by taking antibiotics only when necessary, when prescribed by a doctor, and on the exact days of treatment. Do not give antibiotics to friends, family, or pets without medical supervision, and do the treatments correctly. Together, we can slow down this problem.