3rd International symposium on the environmental dimension of antibiotic resistance

It was a great pleasure to welcome about 150 participants from 30 different nations, including 16 invited speakers as well as more than 90 poster presentations.

The increasing problems with multiple resistant pathogens led to a critical discussion of the anthropogenic use of antibiotics worldwide. The widespread and continued global growth in antibiotics consumption is the driver of antibiotic resistance, and identification of the factors fostering the dissemination of transferable antibiotic resistances is needed to determine effective interventions. The 3rd Symposium on the Environmental Dimension of Antibiotic Resistance (EDAR-3) was focused on effects of anthropogenic use of antibiotics on the micro biomes in various ecosystems and the implications for human health. Recent discoveries by omics techniques have provided not only new insights into the natural reservoirs of antibiotic resistances, but also into their broader roles in an organism and for community function. The fate of antibiotics in environmental compartments such as aquatic or agro-ecosystems was discussed regarding short- and long-term effects, in particular on resistance development and dissemination. The aim was an improved qualitative and quantitative understanding of processes involved, such as antibiotic selection, co-selection by metals or other agents, and the role of the bacterial mobilome to provide a basis for the discussion of regulatory considerations and management options and to identify possible limitations and research needs. The development of technologies and management options to reduce environmental pollution by antibiotics and resistance determinants from, e.g. sewage or production sites might contribute to avoid negative impacts on the environment.

We hope that you enjoyed the discussions at EDAR-3 and received an insight into the recent research results and their implications for human health. We were more than pleased to have welcomed you in Wernigerode.

Kornelia Smalla

Conference chair