A new study presented at the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Global Congress in Barcelona raises concerns about the transmission of antibiotic-resistant bacteria from household pets to their owners, potentially exacerbating the global antibiotics crisis. 

  Lead researcher Juliana Menezes, a doctoral student with the University of Lisbon’s Antibiotic Resistance Lab, challenges the conventional belief that humans are the primary carriers of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria in communities.    The study, which investigated cases in the U.K. and Portugal, underscores the urgency of addressing antibiotic resistance, a major public health threat identified by the World Health Organization. Without intervention, drug-resistant infections, which currently claim over 1.2 million lives annually, could escalate to 10 million deaths by 2050.   

Examining 43 households in Portugal and 22 in the U.K., researchers found instances where both sick pets and healthy owners harbored bacteria resistant to common antibiotics. Specifically, cephalosporin-resistant bacteria were identified in five households, suggesting transmission between pets and owners. Cephalosporins are crucial for treating various infections, including meningitis and pneumonia.   

Additionally, some dogs were found carrying bacteria resistant to carbapenems, essential antibiotics as a last resort in human medicine.    While the direction of transmission couldn’t be definitively established, evidence from three Portuguese households strongly suggests bacteria transfer from pets to humans.   

The study highlights the ease of bacterial transmission through everyday interactions between pets and owners, such as petting, handling, and contact with feces. Researchers stress the importance of hand hygiene, recommending owners wash their hands after interacting with their pets or handling their waste.   

Menezes emphasizes the need to include pet-owning households in national surveillance programs monitoring antibiotic resistance. Understanding resistance patterns in pets can inform targeted interventions crucial for safeguarding both animal and human health.    Though presented at a medical conference, these findings are preliminary and await peer-reviewed publication for validation.