Environmental, Human, And Animal Health Risks From The Dissemination Of Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae Into Agricultural Watersheds

Our hypothesis is that there is a significant risk to environmental, animal, and human health resulting from the transport of CRE from healthcare waste to wastewater treatment plants where they are discharged into surface waters and become incorporated into downstream natural and agricultural ecosystems in the broader watershed.Our long-term goal is to protect animal agriculture and inland fisheries by preventing the transport and understanding the fate of CRE from human healthcare disseminated in surface water where they pose a direct threat to animal and environmental health, as well as the US food chain.Our specific aim is to assess and identify means to mitigate the risk that CRE environmental dissemination poses to animal agriculture and inland fisheries in the US. In order to accomplish this aim, we propose to complete the following objectives:1. Quantify the presence of CRE and specific carbapenemase genes present in WWTP flows, wild fish populations, and in surface waters of agricultural watersheds.2. Identify and investigate the role of important transport vectors capable of introducing CRE from surface waters into agricultural animal populations in the watershed.3. Monitor for the introduction of CRE into agricultural animal populations using intensive targeted surveillance.4. Create a transdisciplinary One Health student training program addressing issues of antimicrobial use, resistance, and stewardship from the human, animal, and environmental health perspectives.