Insights Into Global Antimicrobial Resistance Dynamics Through the Sequencing of Enteric Bacteria From US International Travelers

This study evaluated international travelers as sentinels for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) by analyzing stool samples from 608 individuals before and after travel (2017–2019). A total of 307 travel-associated AMR organisms, mainly diverse Escherichia coli, were sequenced, revealing regional variation in resistance genes: blaCTX-M-55 was common in South America, blaCTX-M-27 in South-Eastern Asia, and novel mcr-1 variants in Western Africa. Genomic analysis linked blaCTX-M-55 to animal-associated motifs, while ColV plasmids—drivers of avian pathogenic E. coli—were more frequent in travelers with animal contact. The findings show that genomic surveillance of travel-acquired pathogens provides valuable insight into global AMR dynamics and can strengthen international monitoring frameworks.