The Association between the Global Threat of Ocean Pollution and Climate Change on the Distribution of Antibiotic Resistance: One Health Strategy

Antibiotic resistance represents a fundamental issue affecting public health today. Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria alter their response to antibiotics. Pathogenic bacteria and their genes can diffuse throughout human and natural habitats. The complicated interactions between diverse bacterial communities that affect the health of people, aquatic animals, and the aquatic environment are an illustration of ecological issues. Pollution of the oceans by antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) can disturb the natural equilibrium of the oceans and may spread to humans. Also, climate change (CC) significantly affects the health of marine environments. Rising temperatures, acidification, increased sea levels, an increasing number of invasive marine animals, changed biological systems, and a decrease in biodiversity are some of the major impacts on the oceans caused by CC. However, the elevated temperatures linked to CC facilitate the higher spread of bacterial infections in aquatic environments, aquatic animals, and humans with the emergence of antibiotic resistance. The present study aimed to provide a scientific understanding of the relationship between ocean pollution and CC, as well as their impacts on ocean health. Additionally, the present study presented the current status of ARB and its associated genes in the oceans, comparing to future projections based on previous studies. One Health (OH) concept strategies for reducing antibiotic pollution in the ocean were discussed. The present paper is a foundation for further studies to determine the prevalence of antibiotic resistance in the oceans, as well as to understand the current state and key highlights of ocean pollution.