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TWN
Info Service on Health Issues (Apr26/03) Dear friends and colleagues, Antibiotic-resistant genes detected in newborns within days of birth A study presented at the ESCMID Global 2026 (European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases) conference in Munich reports that antibiotic-resistance genes (ARGs) can already be detected in newborns within days of birth. The research was conducted by a team from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece. ARGs are genes in bacteria that enable them to resist antibiotics used to treat infections. The study analysed meconium (the first stool) from 105 newborns admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit. Samples collected within the first 72 hours of life contained multiple ARGs, with a median of eight genes per infant. The most frequently detected genes were oqxA and qnrS, which are associated with resistance to commonly used antibiotics. Genes linked to extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) production (blaCTX-M and blaCMY), which can make bacteria resistant to a wide range of antibiotics, were found in about half of the samples. Genes linked to resistance to carbapenems, a last-resort class of antibiotics, were found in around one-fifth of the samples. The findings point to a combination of possible sources, including maternal transmission during pregnancy and delivery, as well as exposure to the hospital environment. The study’s lead author, Argyro Ftergioti, noted that while some resistance genes were expected, their high prevalence was striking, particularly for genes linked to carbapenem resistance. While the study does not examine health outcomes, the early presence of antibiotic-resistance genes highlights concerns for infection prevention and control in neonatal care, and for efforts to limit the spread of antimicrobial resistance in healthcare settings. This
summary is based on reporting by CIDRAP: “Antibiotic-resistance
genes detected in babies within first 3 days of life,” by Chris
Dall (April 21, 2026). The original article is available at: With
best wishes,
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