Abstract
Becoming increasingly common across Poland and Europe. However, to date, microbiological studies have primarily focused on water intakes and the presence of indicator bacteria (i.e., fecal bacteria) in flood sediments. Data on soil microbial loads are lacking. This short review synthesizes the available evidence on pathogen detection in soils after flooding and identifies gaps. Some researchers have reported a high diversity of bacterial, viral, and protozoan pathogens in river water and have shown that selected bacteria, such as Escherichia coli or Salmonella spp., may persist in post-flood soils for up to 44 days. The lack of systematic soil-focused research limits accurate risk assessment and may pose a significant threat to public health and food safety. Research priorities and mitigation strategies relevant to climate change–driven flood risk are proposed.