Figure 2.

Schematic representation of the vicious cycle, which depicts the possible interplay between antibiotic resistance and degradation during the development of new degradation mechanisms and the dissemination of antibiotic resistances. The release of new antibiotics into the environment may apply selective pressure on the community, selecting for new antibiotic resistances in sensitive strains. After establishing this basal resistance, promiscuous enzymes can play a key role in the evolution of novel pathways to valorize the antibiotics as nutrition source. Valorization will result in the ability to grow on the antimicrobials and propagate the classic ARG. Moreover, the reduction of the antibiotic concentration will enable susceptible strains to survive and adapt under non‐lethal stress conditions. Finally, novel antibiotics have to be developed and prescribed.