A recently reported gene, mcr-1, can make bacteria resistant to colistin, the last-resort antibiotic for some multidrug-resistant infections. The spread of mcr-1 may increase due to the gene being distributed between pets and humans. Dogs can hold mcr-1 in their gut before the gene is transferred through microscopic fecal particles.
Source: KFBK, May 25, 2022. Link. Experts at the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Conference revealed results from a recent study showing that the spread of mcr-1 may increase due to the gene being distributed between pets and humans, as dogs can hold mcr-1 in their gut before the gene is transferred through microscopic fecal particles.