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September 3, 2026Critical Reviews in Microbiology

Macroplastics as reservoirs of antimicrobial resistance: a systematic review of evidence, variability and methodological constraints

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Authors

CCCátia CostaGFGuilherme Duarte FerreiraIHIsabel Henriques

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Overview

Systematic review reveals macroplastics harbor antibiotic-resistant bacteria and resistance genes across aquatic ecosystems, indicating their potential role as mobile environmental reservoirs.

Key Points

  • To evaluate the role of macroplastics as environmental reservoirs and vectors of antimicrobial resistance across aquatic systems and assess methodological limitations in current evidence.
  • Conducted a systematic review adhering to PRISMA guidelines evaluating 55 peer-reviewed studies.
  • Synthesized data from environmentally collected and experimentally exposed macroplastics across marine, estuarine, and freshwater systems.
  • Macroplastics consistently harbor clinically relevant antibiotic-resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes, though evidence for systematic enrichment compared to surrounding water remains inconsistent.
  • Freshwater systems and weathered plastics exhibit higher abundance and diversity of resistance markers, driven predominantly by anthropogenic pressure and enhanced biofilm development.
  • Direct evidence demonstrating antimicrobial resistance gene transfer during environmental transport remains limited due to high methodological variability and a lack of genotype-phenotype linkage.

Cite This Study

Costa et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a993547636c6408cfa7d5f6https://doi.org/10.1080/1040841x.2026.2721421
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Also Consider

Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context:

  1. 1Microplastic-Mediated Dissemination of Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Marine Environments: Mechanisms, Environmental Modulators, and Emerging Risks2026
  2. 2The Impact of Microplastics on Antibiotic Resistance Genes2025
  3. 3A comparative, multi-study analysis of plastisphere resistomes, plasmid dynamics, and antibiotic resistance genes2026
  4. 4Enrichment of high-risk antibiotic resistance genes on microplastics in freshwater environments: A meta-analysis2026 · 1 citations
  5. 5The plastisphere as a nexus for antimicrobial resistance: micro(nano)plastics in pathogen colonization, gene transfer, and global health risks2026 · 7 citations