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24 December 2025

Fosfomycin Resistance: An Update on the Anthropogenic Impact Through Agriculture

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1
Department of Microbiology and Translational Medicine, The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Konstantynów 1I, 20-708 Lublin, Poland
2
Department of Animal Nutrition, The Kielanowski Institute of Animal Physiology and Nutrition, Polish Academy of Sciences, Instytucka 3, 05-110 Jabłonna, Poland
3
Department of Natural Environment Biogeochemistry, Institute of Agrophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Doświadczalna 4, 20-290 Lublin, Poland
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This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Progress on Bacterial Antimicrobial Resistance

Abstract

The extensive and often inappropriate use of antibiotics has led to the rapid emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance, reducing their effectiveness against pathogenic microorganisms. Fosfomycin has become an increasingly important therapeutic option in both human and veterinary medicine, particularly when other antibiotics fail. This review summarises current knowledge on the occurrence of fosfomycin resistance and evaluates the role of agricultural practices in its dissemination. Multiple microbial resistance mechanisms have been identified, including genes from the fosA, fosB, and fosC families, and new determinants continue to be reported. Agriculture contributes to the environmental spread of resistance through the use of antibiotics in food-producing animals, the exchange of resistant microorganisms between humans and animals, and the application of manure as fertiliser. Fosfomycin resistance genes have been detected in livestock such as pigs, chickens, pigeons, and cows, as well as in vegetables. Their presence in soil is influenced by fertilisation, nitrogen levels, microplastics, heavy metals, and pesticide application. Additionally, climate warming may facilitate the broader dissemination of fosfomycin resistance. Despite increasing evidence, current understanding remains limited. Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms driving the spread of fosfomycin resistance in agricultural environments and to develop effective monitoring strategies.

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