Travelers Could Gain Antibiotic Resistant Genes In Just Two Days, Maastricht University Study

While vacationing this summer, it’s possible you’ll be bringing back more than just souvenirs. New Scientist reports on a presentation at the American Society for Microbiology annual meeting that found a small group of travelers picked up new genes that made them resistant to some antibiotics, just two days after they arrived in a new location.

Previously, research has shown that antibiotic resistance genes show up in travelers once they’ve returned home from a trip. But the scientists at Maastricht University wanted to find out how long it takes for those genes to show up.