The ‘Poo-Sticks’ project, led by Elitsa Penkova, a PhD student at the University of Exeter and a member of GW4’s Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Alliance, is now recruiting wild river swimmers and non-swimmers to participate in a study addressing pollution in UK, and its potential impact on human health.
Funded by the Natural Environment research Council (NERC), the ‘Poo-Sticks’ project focuses on understanding how wild swimmers may be affected by exposure to faecally-associated antibiotic-resistant bacteria, also known as ‘superbugs’, which are often found in UK rivers and other natural freshwater, such as lakes, affected by sewage pollution and run-off.
The study invites both regular river swimmers and non-swimmers to provide a faecal sample, using a pre-paid postal kit, and share information about their recent swimming activities, dietary habits, and overall lifestyle and health. The project has so far successfully enrolled a substantial number of wild swimmers, and is now looking for non-swimmers to join the study. By comparing outcomes from swimmers and non-swimmers, the team hopes to identify whether differences in people’s gut bacteria might be due to exposure to natural waters affected by pollution.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) happens when microorganisms, such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites, change when they are exposed to antimicrobial drugs, like antibiotics, antifungals, antivirals, antimalarials, and anthelminthics. Antimicrobial resistance occurs naturally over time, usually through genetic changes. However, the misuse and overuse of antimicrobials in humans and animals is accelerating this process. AMR presents an increasingly serious threat to global public health and wellbeing, as well as the sustainability and economics of food systems.
Penkova, said: “A lot of people carry antibiotic-resistant bacteria in their guts, yet they’re completely unaware of it. If bacteria causing an infection are resistant to antibiotics, then treatment won’t work, which may lead to more severe illness. This is a major issue, and we hope our findings will inform strategies for reducing the spread of antimicrobial resistant bacteria.”
River swimmers and non-swimmers who are interested in taking part in the ‘Poo-Sticks’ study can find out more information about the study by visiting the website of European Centre for Environment and Human Health (ECEHH).
Recognising that healthy individuals can carry resistant bacteria asymptomatically, the ‘Poo-Sticks’ study cannot assess the likelihood of experiencing symptoms of infection after exposure to polluted waters. To address this, the research team has launched a second study - the National Health Snapshot. This simple online questionnaire, taking 10 minutes or less to complete, is explicitly designed to assess whether people who swim in rivers or lakes are at higher risk of experiencing symptoms of ill health compared to those who do not go into the water.
To find out more about this study, and take part in the National Health Snapshot, visit the ECEHH's website: https://www.ecehh.org/news/health-freshwater-bathing/
*Image Credit: Samuel Care.
