Quantitative risk assessment of antimicrobial resistance exposure among farmers through indirect water reuse for irrigation

This study shows that traditional risk assessments underestimate the true health impact of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in agricultural settings. By applying disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) instead of relying only on infection probabilities, the researchers captured the additional harm caused by resistant infections, such as longer illness and more complicated treatment.

Focusing on farmers exposed to AMR-contaminated irrigation water, the study examined diarrhea caused by Escherichia coli and impetigo caused by Staphylococcus aureus. The water contained resistance to commonly used antibiotics, largely linked to fecal pollution from livestock facilities. Infection risks exceeded accepted safety thresholds, and DALY-based analysis showed that AMR increased the annual disease burden by up to 4.2% under current conditions—and as much as 100% in high-AMR scenarios.

Overall, the findings demonstrate that DALYs provide a more realistic measure of AMR-related health burdens from reused or contaminated irrigation water and offer a stronger basis for decision-making and mitigation of AMR risks in agriculture and environmental health.