Enjoy a dip in the sea and you risk picking up antibiotic-resistant bacteria . Swimmers and surfers are most at risk of catching the E.coli bug as they are more likely to swallow contaminated water , a study has suggested . Scientists at the University of Exeter have warned of the danger after analysing data collected from beaches across England and Wales in 2012 . They focused on a strain of E.coli bacteria resistant to an important class of antibiotics called third-generation cephalosporins , or 3GCs . Swimmers and surfers are most at risk of catching the E.coli bug as they are more likely to swallow contaminated water , a study has suggested . Study leader Dr William Gaze said : 'We know very little about how the natural environment can spread antibiotic-resistant bacteria to humans , or how our exposure to these microbes can affect health . 'People are exposed to antibiotic-resistant bacteria in many ways , through person-to-person contact , via food and as a result of international travel . 'Our research establishes recreational use of coastal waters as an additional route of exposure . 'With millions of people visiting beaches in England and Wales each year , there is a risk of people ingesting 3GC resistant E. coli and it looks like water-users ' exposure to all resistant bacteria could be even higher . ' If you enjoy a dip in the sea and you risk picking up a strain of E.coli bacteria ( pictured ) resistant to an important class of antibiotics . Salt in sea water is known to kill off some bacteria , but not all . Although only 0.12 per cent of the E.coli found in coastal waters and rivers running on to beaches belonged to the strain , researchers said this was enough to present a 'potential risk ' . The study , published in the journal Environment International , showed risk of exposure was closely related to the water quality at any given beach . Researchers said this demonstrated the importance of the EU 's Bathing Water Directive , which aims to ensure good water quality standards , but added that people should not be put off visiting the seaside .
Swimmers and surfers are most at risk of catching E.coli bug , study claims . This is because they are more likely to swallow contaminated water . Comment: