EMBRACE-WATERS statement:: Recommendations for reporting of studies on antimicrobial resistance in wastewater and related aquatic environments

Nasreen Hassoun-Kheir; Yoav Stabholz; Jan-Ulrich Kreft; Roberto de la Cruz; Arnaud Dechesne; Barth F Smets; Jesús L Romalde; Alberto Lema; Sabela Balboa; Carlos García-Riestra; Eva Torres-Sangiao; Ami Neuberger; David Graham; Marcos Quintela-Baluja; Dov J Stekel; Jay Graham; Amy Pruden; Joseph Nesme; Søren Johannes Sørensen; Rupert Hough; Mical Paul

doi:10.1016/j.onehlt.2021.100339

EMBRACE-WATERS statement: Recommendations for reporting of studies on antimicrobial resistance in wastewater and related aquatic environments

Nasreen Hassoun-Kheir, Yoav Stabholz, Jan-Ulrich Kreft, Roberto de la Cruz, Arnaud Dechesne, Barth F Smets, Jesús L Romalde, Alberto Lema, Sabela Balboa, Carlos García-Riestra, Eva Torres-Sangiao, Ami Neuberger, David Graham, Marcos Quintela-Baluja, Dov J Stekel, Jay Graham, Amy Pruden, Joseph Nesme, Søren Johannes Sørensen, Rupert HoughMical Paul

Biosciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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Abstract

Background: A One Health approach requires integrative research to elucidate antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the environment and the risks it poses to human health. Research on this topic involves experts from diverse backgrounds and professions. Shortcomings exist in terms of consistent, complete, and transparent reporting in many environmental studies. Standardized reporting will improve the quality of scientific papers, enable meta-analyses and enhance the communication among different experts. In this study, we aimed to generate a consensus of reporting standards for AMR research in wastewater and related aquatic environments.

Methods: Based on a risk of bias assessment of the literature in a systematic review, we proposed a set of study quality indicators. We then used a multistep modified Delphi consensus to develop the EMBRACE-WATERS statement (rEporting antiMicroBial ResistAnCE in WATERS), a checklist of recommendations for reporting in studies of AMR in wastewater and related aquatic environments.

Findings: Consensus was achieved among a multidisciplinary panel of twenty-one experts in three steps. The developed EMBRACE-WATERS statement incorporates 21 items. Each item contains essential elements of high-quality reporting and is followed by an explanation of their rationale and a reporting-example. The EMBRACE-WATERS statement is primarily intended to be used by investigators to ensure transparent and comprehensive reporting of their studies. It can also guide peer-reviewers and editors in evaluation of manuscripts on AMR in the aquatic environment. This statement is not intended to be used to guide investigators on the methodology of their research.

Interpretation: We are hopeful that this statement will improve the reporting quality of future studies of AMR in wastewater and related aquatic environments. Its uptake would generate a common language to be used among researchers from different disciplines, thus advancing the One Health approach towards understanding AMR spread across aquatic environments. Similar initiatives are needed in other areas of One Health research.

Original language	English
Article number	100339
Number of pages	9
Journal	One health (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
Volume	13
Early online date	19 Oct 2021
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.onehlt.2021.100339
Publication status	Published - Dec 2021

Bibliographical note

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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Cite this

Hassoun-Kheir, N., Stabholz, Y., Kreft, J-U., de la Cruz, R., Dechesne, A., Smets, B. F., Romalde, J. L., Lema, A., Balboa, S., García-Riestra, C., Torres-Sangiao, E., Neuberger, A., Graham, D., Quintela-Baluja, M., Stekel, D. J., Graham, J., Pruden, A., Nesme, J., Sørensen, S. J., ... Paul, M. (2021). EMBRACE-WATERS statement: Recommendations for reporting of studies on antimicrobial resistance in wastewater and related aquatic environments. One health (Amsterdam, Netherlands), 13, Article 100339. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.onehlt.2021.100339

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title = "EMBRACE-WATERS statement:: Recommendations for reporting of studies on antimicrobial resistance in wastewater and related aquatic environments",

abstract = "Background: A One Health approach requires integrative research to elucidate antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the environment and the risks it poses to human health. Research on this topic involves experts from diverse backgrounds and professions. Shortcomings exist in terms of consistent, complete, and transparent reporting in many environmental studies. Standardized reporting will improve the quality of scientific papers, enable meta-analyses and enhance the communication among different experts. In this study, we aimed to generate a consensus of reporting standards for AMR research in wastewater and related aquatic environments.Methods: Based on a risk of bias assessment of the literature in a systematic review, we proposed a set of study quality indicators. We then used a multistep modified Delphi consensus to develop the EMBRACE-WATERS statement (rEporting antiMicroBial ResistAnCE in WATERS), a checklist of recommendations for reporting in studies of AMR in wastewater and related aquatic environments.Findings: Consensus was achieved among a multidisciplinary panel of twenty-one experts in three steps. The developed EMBRACE-WATERS statement incorporates 21 items. Each item contains essential elements of high-quality reporting and is followed by an explanation of their rationale and a reporting-example. The EMBRACE-WATERS statement is primarily intended to be used by investigators to ensure transparent and comprehensive reporting of their studies. It can also guide peer-reviewers and editors in evaluation of manuscripts on AMR in the aquatic environment. This statement is not intended to be used to guide investigators on the methodology of their research.Interpretation: We are hopeful that this statement will improve the reporting quality of future studies of AMR in wastewater and related aquatic environments. Its uptake would generate a common language to be used among researchers from different disciplines, thus advancing the One Health approach towards understanding AMR spread across aquatic environments. Similar initiatives are needed in other areas of One Health research.",

author = "Nasreen Hassoun-Kheir and Yoav Stabholz and Jan-Ulrich Kreft and {de la Cruz}, Roberto and Arnaud Dechesne and Smets, {Barth F} and Romalde, {Jes{\'u}s L} and Alberto Lema and Sabela Balboa and Carlos Garc{\'i}a-Riestra and Eva Torres-Sangiao and Ami Neuberger and David Graham and Marcos Quintela-Baluja and Stekel, {Dov J} and Jay Graham and Amy Pruden and Joseph Nesme and S{\o}rensen, {S{\o}ren Johannes} and Rupert Hough and Mical Paul",

note = "{\textcopyright} 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.",

year = "2021",

month = dec,

doi = "10.1016/j.onehlt.2021.100339",

language = "English",

volume = "13",

journal = "One health (Amsterdam, Netherlands)",

issn = "2352-7714",

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Hassoun-Kheir, N, Stabholz, Y, Kreft, J-U, de la Cruz, R, Dechesne, A, Smets, BF, Romalde, JL, Lema, A, Balboa, S, García-Riestra, C, Torres-Sangiao, E, Neuberger, A, Graham, D, Quintela-Baluja, M, Stekel, DJ, Graham, J, Pruden, A, Nesme, J, Sørensen, SJ, Hough, R & Paul, M 2021, 'EMBRACE-WATERS statement: Recommendations for reporting of studies on antimicrobial resistance in wastewater and related aquatic environments', One health (Amsterdam, Netherlands), vol. 13, 100339. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.onehlt.2021.100339

TY - JOUR

T1 - EMBRACE-WATERS statement:

T2 - Recommendations for reporting of studies on antimicrobial resistance in wastewater and related aquatic environments

AU - Hassoun-Kheir, Nasreen

AU - Stabholz, Yoav

AU - Kreft, Jan-Ulrich

AU - de la Cruz, Roberto

AU - Dechesne, Arnaud

AU - Smets, Barth F

AU - Romalde, Jesús L

AU - Lema, Alberto

AU - Balboa, Sabela

AU - García-Riestra, Carlos

AU - Torres-Sangiao, Eva

AU - Neuberger, Ami

AU - Graham, David

AU - Quintela-Baluja, Marcos

AU - Stekel, Dov J

AU - Graham, Jay

AU - Pruden, Amy

AU - Nesme, Joseph

AU - Sørensen, Søren Johannes

AU - Hough, Rupert

AU - Paul, Mical

PY - 2021/12

Y1 - 2021/12

N2 - Background: A One Health approach requires integrative research to elucidate antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the environment and the risks it poses to human health. Research on this topic involves experts from diverse backgrounds and professions. Shortcomings exist in terms of consistent, complete, and transparent reporting in many environmental studies. Standardized reporting will improve the quality of scientific papers, enable meta-analyses and enhance the communication among different experts. In this study, we aimed to generate a consensus of reporting standards for AMR research in wastewater and related aquatic environments.Methods: Based on a risk of bias assessment of the literature in a systematic review, we proposed a set of study quality indicators. We then used a multistep modified Delphi consensus to develop the EMBRACE-WATERS statement (rEporting antiMicroBial ResistAnCE in WATERS), a checklist of recommendations for reporting in studies of AMR in wastewater and related aquatic environments.Findings: Consensus was achieved among a multidisciplinary panel of twenty-one experts in three steps. The developed EMBRACE-WATERS statement incorporates 21 items. Each item contains essential elements of high-quality reporting and is followed by an explanation of their rationale and a reporting-example. The EMBRACE-WATERS statement is primarily intended to be used by investigators to ensure transparent and comprehensive reporting of their studies. It can also guide peer-reviewers and editors in evaluation of manuscripts on AMR in the aquatic environment. This statement is not intended to be used to guide investigators on the methodology of their research.Interpretation: We are hopeful that this statement will improve the reporting quality of future studies of AMR in wastewater and related aquatic environments. Its uptake would generate a common language to be used among researchers from different disciplines, thus advancing the One Health approach towards understanding AMR spread across aquatic environments. Similar initiatives are needed in other areas of One Health research.

AB - Background: A One Health approach requires integrative research to elucidate antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the environment and the risks it poses to human health. Research on this topic involves experts from diverse backgrounds and professions. Shortcomings exist in terms of consistent, complete, and transparent reporting in many environmental studies. Standardized reporting will improve the quality of scientific papers, enable meta-analyses and enhance the communication among different experts. In this study, we aimed to generate a consensus of reporting standards for AMR research in wastewater and related aquatic environments.Methods: Based on a risk of bias assessment of the literature in a systematic review, we proposed a set of study quality indicators. We then used a multistep modified Delphi consensus to develop the EMBRACE-WATERS statement (rEporting antiMicroBial ResistAnCE in WATERS), a checklist of recommendations for reporting in studies of AMR in wastewater and related aquatic environments.Findings: Consensus was achieved among a multidisciplinary panel of twenty-one experts in three steps. The developed EMBRACE-WATERS statement incorporates 21 items. Each item contains essential elements of high-quality reporting and is followed by an explanation of their rationale and a reporting-example. The EMBRACE-WATERS statement is primarily intended to be used by investigators to ensure transparent and comprehensive reporting of their studies. It can also guide peer-reviewers and editors in evaluation of manuscripts on AMR in the aquatic environment. This statement is not intended to be used to guide investigators on the methodology of their research.Interpretation: We are hopeful that this statement will improve the reporting quality of future studies of AMR in wastewater and related aquatic environments. Its uptake would generate a common language to be used among researchers from different disciplines, thus advancing the One Health approach towards understanding AMR spread across aquatic environments. Similar initiatives are needed in other areas of One Health research.

U2 - 10.1016/j.onehlt.2021.100339

DO - 10.1016/j.onehlt.2021.100339

M3 - Article

C2 - 34746357

SN - 2352-7714

VL - 13

JO - One health (Amsterdam, Netherlands)

JF - One health (Amsterdam, Netherlands)

M1 - 100339

ER -