Wildlife as vectors for antibiotic‑resistant bacteria across ecosystems

A study of wildlife in northern Italy finds foxes and several bird species carry hospital-linked Klebsiella pneumoniae strains that resist multiple antibiotics, including the NDM-5 gene, signaling that antibiotic resistance is present beyond clinical settings. Researchers say wildlife can act as sentinels for environmental contamination and help map how resistance travels through ecosystems, aided by factors like wastewater and waste runoff. The findings show a low prevalence (about 2%) but indicate environmental reservoirs of high‑risk clones (like ST307) and shared plasmids, highlighting the need for broader wildlife monitoring and cleaner wastewater to slow the spread.