Antibiotic resistance among germs swells during droughts, study suggests
By Beth Mole
Published on March 25, 2026.
A study by the California Institute of Technology has found that increasing antibiotic resistance among germs increases during droughts. The researchers found that dry soil consistently selects for antibiotic resistance in soil bacterial communities. This increase in soil resistance is linked to higher rates of antibiotic-resistant infections in hospitals worldwide. The study also suggests that human-driven climate change could exacerbate this issue.
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