Fate of fluoroquinolones associated with antimicrobial resistance in circular periurban agriculture

Animal antibiotic use contributes to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in humans, with soil fertility being affected by antibiotic residues and antibiotic-resistant bacteria. In Argentina, fluoroquinolones are used in horticulture, causing AMR in the environment. A study tracing fluoroquinolones from poultry to soil and lettuce revealed that lettuce from manured plots contained enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin. The study also found that static storage is insufficient to stop antibiotic transmission from poultry to horticulture, contributing to pollution and human antibiotic exposure through fresh vegetables.