Sanitation in urban areas may limit the spread of antimicrobial resistance via flies

Synanthropic filth flies, often found in poor sanitation areas, are known to transport antimicrobial resistant organisms and associated antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs), increasing exposure risks. A study in Maputo, Mozambique found that an onsite sanitation intervention reduced enteric bacteria concentration and ARG detection in household compounds of low-income neighborhoods. The intervention also reduced the number of ARGs per fly, with only 3.4 of the tested isolates resistant to antibiotics. Improving sanitation infrastructure in low-income informal settlements could help reduce fly-mediated transmission of AMRs.