Jen Watson
4/25/2012
McMaster University researchers have discovered a new source of antibiotic resistance that they say has important public health implications.
It's called floc - a "goo-like" substance that occurs in water.
The study looked at floc in four different freshwater systems including Hamilton Harbour.
Research found that antibiotic resistance varied in intensity based on human influence. Hamilton Harbour, which is highly impacted by sewer overflow, had the highest concentration of floc trace elements.
Researchers say the more antibiotic resistance there is, the less effective our antibiotic arsenal is to fight infectious diseases.
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