Distribution and antibiotic resistance patterns of airborne staphylococci in urban environments of Delhi, India

This study investigates airborne Staphylococcus species across urban environments in Delhi and reveals that antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and resistance genes (ARGs) are widely present in the city’s outdoor air. The researchers collected air samples from multiple high-traffic and residential locations and found diverse Staphylococcus strains, including S. aureus and coagulase-negative species, many of which showed resistance to commonly used antibiotics such as penicillins, macrolides, and tetracyclines. Several isolates carried multiple resistance genes, highlighting the potential for airborne transmission of multidrug-resistant organisms. The findings underscore that AMR is not confined to hospitals, farms, or wastewater systems — urban air itself can act as a reservoir and pathway for spreading resistant bacteria. This raises important public-health concerns for densely populated cities with high pollution levels, calling for improved air-quality monitoring, environmental surveillance for AMR, and integrated One Health strategies that include the airborne environment as a critical component.