Zeng, QingyueLam, KevinSalcedo, AutumnKonsen, DerekBlaustein, RyanBiological soil amendments of animal origin (BSAAOs) are widely used in urban agriculture to improve soil health. Although BSAAO use is regulated in the United States due to food safety risks, impacts on antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) bacteria are not well established. We aimed to explore impacts of BSAAOs, among other factors, on AMR bacteria in leafy vegetable production environments across urban farms and community gardens in the Washington D.C. area. Samples of leaf tissue (LT), root zone soil (RZS; amended soil in crop beds), and bulk soil (BS; soil along site perimeter) were collected and analyzed for concentrations of total heterotrophic bacteria (THB). Isolates of AMR strains and coliforms were further screened for multi-drug resistance (MDR) phenotypes. Across-site variation in AMR bacteria in RZS and LT samples broadly reflected land use history and crop management and within-site variation demonstrated effects of specific amendment sources, as well as vegetable type and variety. Overall, our findings demonstrate that promoting soil bacteria activity in the urban landscape has potential implications for managing AMR.enDepartment of Nutrition and Food ScienceAGNRFood MicrobiologyFood SafetyFood ScienceAntimicrobial ResistanceUrban AgricultureOther