Bats as Hosts of Antimicrobial-Resistant Mammaliicoccus lentus and Staphylococcus epidermidis with Zoonotic Relevance

Bats are increasingly recognized as reservoirs for antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, potentially causing the spread of resistance genes across species and regions. A study in Portugal found that 105 bats from 19 species showed multidrug resistance in three isolates, with S. epidermidis carrying qacA, indicating potential horizontal gene transfer. Heavy metal resistance genes were also identified, indicating environmental factors co-selecting antimicrobial resistance. The study highlights the need for monitoring bats as reservoirs of resistance determinants and the importance of adopting a One Health approach to mitigate the risks associated with antimicrobial resistance.