Microplastics Linked to Alarming Rise in Antibiotic Resistance, Study Finds

Boston University researchers reveal how microplastics strengthen bacterial biofilms, making them resistant to widely used antibiotics.

Microplastics provide surfaces for bacteria to form biofilms, which act as protective barriers against antibiotics.
The study found E. coli bacteria on microplastics became resistant to multiple antibiotics, including ciprofloxacin and doxycycline.
Biofilms on microplastics were stronger and thicker compared to those on other materials like glass, amplifying bacterial resistance.
Refugee and displaced populations are particularly vulnerable due to high exposure to microplastic pollution in overcrowded and unsanitary environments.
Researchers aim to further study how these findings translate to real-world settings, including refugee camps, and to uncover the mechanisms behind the bacteria-plastic interaction.