Scientists are interested in understanding more about the presence and sources of antibiotic-resistant bacteria through environmental surveillance.One way to assess environmental antibiotic resistance is by scanning the DNA present in environmental samples for the presence of resistance genes. Another way is to culture bacteria present. Each method provides different information that, together, help scientists understand how antibiotic resistance spreads in the environment, and to people and animals. This is the overarching objective of the PARE project.

A review describing the potential for PARE to impact understanding of resistance can be found here.