A novel therapeutic concern: Antibiotic resistance genes in common chronic diseases

Infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria carrying antibiotic resistance genes pose a severe threat to global public health and human health. In clinical practice, it has been found that human gut microbiota act as a “reservoir” of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) since gut microbiota contain a wide variety of ARGs, and that the structure of the gut microbiome is influenced by the profile of the drug resistance genes present. In addition, ARGs can spread within and between species of the gut microbiome in multiple ways. To better understand gut microbiota ARGs and their effects on patients with chronic diseases, this article reviews the generation of ARGs, common vectors that transmit ARGs, the characteristics of gut microbiota ARGs in common chronic diseases, their impact on prognosis, the current state of treatment for ARGs, and what should be addressed in future research.