Rethinking the words hostspot reservoir and pristine in the environmental dimensions of antimicrobial resistance

The authors evaluate three phrases—”hotspot,” “reservoir,” and “pristine”—that are frequently used to describe the environmental aspects of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) by asking two questions: how are these terms used in published research, and how do they influence ongoing research? Four possibly more useful and accurate names for AMR hazard are proposed, and we urge the community to consider and enhance its language use: existence, transmission, development, and interconnectedness.