Major genetic study reveals how antibiotic resistance varies according to where you live, demographics and diet

A genetic study analyzing the microbiome (bacteria in the gut) of a large nationally representative sample of the Finnish population finds that geographic, demographic, diet, and lifestyle factors are driving the spread of antibiotic resistance in the general population.

The most comprehensive study of its kind by Dr. Katariina Pärnänen from the University of Turku in Finland and colleagues, being presented at this year’s European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases (ECCMID) in Copenhagen, Denmark (15-18 April), highlights the urgent need for targeted interventions to reduce antibiotic resistance tailored to different demographics and lifestyles.