Wastewater based genomic surveillance key to population level monitoring of AmpC/ESBL producing Escherichia coli

A study using whole genome sequencing (WGS) found a high abundance of multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli in Finland, with significant differences in AMR gene diversity between cities. The study found clonally diverse isolates with varying AMR gene diversity and abundance. The study also predicted phenotypic resistance against various antibiotics and stress-resistance genes. The findings suggest that wastewater surveillance could be crucial for population-level monitoring and public health decisions. The study proposes longitudinal WGS-based epidemiology as an economically feasible approach for global AMR surveillance, pathogen evolution, and prediction of AMR.