Antibiotic resistance

Lecturer: Dr. Bas van der Zaan (Deltares)

Duration: 2x45 mins (8.30 - 10.15)

Summary

Antibiotic resistance is a 'wicked problem'. We need antibiotics to fight diseases, but by using it too much the pathogens will develop resistance and the medication will be useless. In this lecture the antibiotics and formation of resistance will be introduced including their environmental relations.

Student learning goals

• The student can explain antibiotic resistance.
• The student can explain the health threat of antibiotic resistance.
• Can explain the role of human actions in the environment in the spread of antibiotic resistance.

Literature for self study

Obligatory (for exam):

• Bengtsson-Palme, J., Kristiansson, E. and Larsson, D.J., 2017. Environmental factors influencing the development and spread of antibiotic resistance. FEMS microbiology reviews, 42(1), p.fux053. https://academic.oup.com/femsre/article/42/1/fux053/4563583

Not obligatory:

• Karkman, A., Pärnänen, K. and Larsson, D.J., 2019. Fecal pollution can explain antibiotic resistance gene abundances in anthropogenically impacted environments. Nature communications, 10(1), p.80. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-018-07992-3

Watch antibiotic resistance evolve | Science News

Health impacts of reservoirs in Africa

Lecturer: Eline Boelee (Deltares)

Duration: 2x45 mins (10.30-12.15)

Summary

The lecture shows examples of health impacts that arise from environmental changes, in particular water storage. This lecture focuses on water storage in Africa, such as the creation of small reservoirs. These environmental changes may increase malaria transmission, but can also trigger social changes. These in turn influence the effectiveness of the reservoir use and also influence the health burden related to the reservoirs.

Student learning goals

The student can reproduce the presented relations between environmental changes, social responses and health effects.

Contributions to course goals

The lecture contributes to the following goals:

• To know and understand the relations between water and water related diseases as an example of a socio-ecological problems.
• The understanding of socio-cultural processes and mechanisms that led to current problems. The understanding of these socio-cultural processes is important to provide and implement sustainable solutions.

Literature

Obligatory (downloadable @ RU network):

Boelee E, Yohannes M, Poda J-N, McCartney M, Cecchi P, Kibret S, Hagos F, Laamrani H (2013) Options for water storage and rainwater harvesting to improve health and resilience against climate change in Africa. Regional Environmental Change 13 (3): 509-519. DOI 10.1007/s10113-012-0287-4. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10113-012-0287-4

Not obligatory:

Venot J-P & Cecchi P (2011) Valeurs d'usage ou performances techniques: comment apprécier le rôle des petits barrages en Afrique subsaharienne ? Cahiers Agriculture 20: 112-117. DOI 10.1684/agr.2010.0457