scholarly journals A Review on Occurrence and Spread of Antibiotic Resistance in Wastewaters and in Wastewater Treatment Plants: Mechanisms and Perspectives

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cansu Uluseker ◽  
Krista Michelle Kaster ◽  
Kristian Thorsen ◽  
Daniel Basiry ◽  
Sutha Shobana ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Activated Sludge ◽  
Mathematical Models ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Treated Wastewater ◽  
Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Sludge Treatment ◽  
Treatment Methods

This paper reviews current knowledge on sources, spread and removal mechanisms of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in microbial communities of wastewaters, treatment plants and downstream recipients. Antibiotic is the most important tool to cure bacterial infections in humans and animals. The over- and misuse of antibiotics have played a major role in the development, spread, and prevalence of antibiotic resistance (AR) in the microbiomes of humans and animals, and microbial ecosystems worldwide. AR can be transferred and spread amongst bacteria via intra- and interspecies horizontal gene transfer (HGT). Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) receive wastewater containing an enormous variety of pollutants, including antibiotics, and chemicals from different sources. They contain large and diverse communities of microorganisms and provide a favorable environment for the spread and reproduction of AR. Existing WWTPs are not designed to remove micropollutants, antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and ARGs, which therefore remain present in the effluent. Studies have shown that raw and treated wastewaters carry a higher amount of ARB in comparison to surface water, and such reports have led to further studies on more advanced treatment processes. This review summarizes what is known about AR removal efficiencies of different wastewater treatment methods, and it shows the variations among different methods. Results vary, but the trend is that conventional activated sludge treatment, with aerobic and/or anaerobic reactors alone or in series, followed by advanced post treatment methods like UV, ozonation, and oxidation removes considerably more ARGs and ARB than activated sludge treatment alone. In addition to AR levels in treated wastewater, it examines AR levels in biosolids, settled by-product from wastewater treatment, and discusses AR removal efficiency of different biosolids treatment procedures. Finally, it puts forward key-points and suggestions for dealing with and preventing further increase of AR in WWTPs and other aquatic environments, together with a discussion on the use of mathematical models to quantify and simulate the spread of ARGs in WWTPs. Mathematical models already play a role in the analysis and development of WWTPs, but they do not consider AR and challenges remain before models can be used to reliably study the dynamics and reduction of AR in such systems.

scholarly journals Quantitative Occurrence of Antibiotic Resistance Genes among Bacterial Populations from Wastewater Treatment Plants Using Activated Sludge

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 387 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adriana Osińska ◽  
Ewa Korzeniewska ◽  
Monika Harnisz ◽  
Sebastian Niestępski
Keyword(s):  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Activated Sludge ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
Antibiotic Resistance Gene ◽  
Antibiotic Resistance Genes ◽  
Treated Wastewater ◽  
Beta Lactams ◽  
Treatment Technology ◽  
Bacterial Populations

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are an important reservoir in the development of drug resistance phenomenon and they provide a potential route of antibiotic resistance gene (ARGs) dissemination in the environment. The aim of this study was to assess the role of WWTPs in the spread of ARGs. Untreated and treated wastewater samples that were collected from thirteen Polish WWTPs (applying four different modifications of activated sludge–based treatment technology) were analyzed. The quantitative occurrence of genes responsible for the resistance to beta-lactams and tetracyclines was determined using the real-time PCR method. Such genes in the DNA of both the total bacterial population and of the E. coli population were analyzed. Among the tested genes that are responsible for the resistance to beta-lactams and tetracyclines, blaOXA and blaTEM and tetA were dominant, respectively. This study found an insufficient reduction in the quantity of the genes that are responsible for antibiotic resistance in wastewater treatment processes. The results emphasize the need to monitor the presence of genes determining antibiotic resistance in the wastewater that is discharged from treatment plants, as they can help to identify the hazard that treated wastewater poses to public health.

scholarly journals Characterization of Environmental and Cultivable Antibiotic-Resistant Microbial Communities Associated with Wastewater Treatment

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alicia Sorgen ◽  
James Johnson ◽  
Kevin Lambirth ◽  
Sandra Clinton ◽  
Molly Redmond ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Bacterial Resistance ◽  
Compositional Data ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
Treated Wastewater ◽  
Plate Count ◽  
Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Bacterial Populations ◽  
Antibiotic Resistant

Bacterial resistance to antibiotics is a growing global concern, threatening human and environ-mental health, particularly among urban populations. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are thought to be “hotspots” for antibiotic resistance dissemination. The conditions of WWTPs, in conjunction with the persistence of commonly used antibiotics, may favor the selection and trans-fer of resistance genes among bacterial populations. WWTPs provide an important ecological niche to examine the spread of antibiotic resistance. We used heterotrophic plate count methods to identify phenotypically resistant cultivable portions of these bacterial communities and charac-terized the composition of the culturable subset of these populations. Resistant taxa were more abundant in raw sewage and wastewater before the biological aeration treatment stage. While some antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) were detectable downstream of treated wastewater re-lease, these organisms are not enriched relative to effluent-free upstream water, indicating effi-cient removal during treatment. Combined culture-dependent and culture-independent analyses revealed a stark difference in community composition between culturable fractions and the envi-ronmental source material, irrespective of culturing conditions. Higher proportions of the envi-ronmental populations were recovered than predicted by the widely accepted 1% culturability paradigm. These results represent baseline abundance and compositional data for ARB commu-nities for reference in future studies addressing the dissemination of antibiotic resistance associ-ated with urban wastewater treatment ecosystems.

scholarly journals Characterization of Environmental and Cultivable Antibiotic-Resistant Microbial Communities Associated with Wastewater Treatment

Antibiotics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 352
Author(s):  
Alicia Sorgen ◽  
James Johnson ◽  
Kevin Lambirth ◽  
Sandra M. Clinton ◽  
Molly Redmond ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Bacterial Resistance ◽  
Compositional Data ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
Treated Wastewater ◽  
Plate Count ◽  
Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Bacterial Populations ◽  
Antibiotic Resistant

Bacterial resistance to antibiotics is a growing global concern, threatening human and environmental health, particularly among urban populations. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are thought to be “hotspots” for antibiotic resistance dissemination. The conditions of WWTPs, in conjunction with the persistence of commonly used antibiotics, may favor the selection and transfer of resistance genes among bacterial populations. WWTPs provide an important ecological niche to examine the spread of antibiotic resistance. We used heterotrophic plate count methods to identify phenotypically resistant cultivable portions of these bacterial communities and characterized the composition of the culturable subset of these populations. Resistant taxa were more abundant in raw sewage and wastewater before the biological aeration treatment stage. While some antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) were detectable downstream of treated wastewater release, these organisms are not enriched relative to effluent-free upstream water, indicating efficient removal during treatment. Combined culture-dependent and -independent analyses revealed a stark difference in community composition between culturable fractions and the environmental source material, irrespective of culturing conditions. Higher proportions of the environmental populations were recovered than predicted by the widely accepted 1% culturability paradigm. These results represent baseline abundance and compositional data for ARB communities for reference in future studies addressing the dissemination of antibiotic resistance associated with urban wastewater treatment ecosystems.

scholarly journals Drug resistance in airborne bacteria isolated from waste management and wastewater treatment plants in Olsztyn

2019 ◽  
Vol 100 ◽  
pp. 00066 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacek Potorski ◽  
Izabela Koniuszewska ◽  
Małgorzata Czatzkowska ◽  
Monika Harnisz
Keyword(s):  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Waste Management ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
Antibiotic Resistance Genes ◽  
Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Bacterial Strains ◽  
Bacterial Counts ◽  
Air Samples ◽  
Processing Line

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and municipal waste management plants (MWMPs) emit bioaerosols containing potentially pathogenic biological components which post a threat for human health. Microbiological monitoring supports evaluations of the antibiotic resistance (AR) of airborne microorganisms and the relevant health risks. The aim of this study was to analyze the microbiological quality of air sampled in a WWTP and MWMP in Olsztyn based on total bacterial counts, the presence of bacteria resistant to three antibiotic classes (beta-lactams, tetracyclines and chloramphenicol) and genes encoding resistance to these antibiotics (blaTEM, blaSHV, blaCMY-2, blaAmpC, tet(M), tet(A), tet(X), tet(B), cmlA, floR, fexA, fexB and catA1 ). Bacterial counts were higher in air samples collected from the MWMP (~104 CFU/m3) than from the WWTP (101–103 CFU/m3). A similar trend was noted in the counts of antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB). The abundance of ARB did not exceed 1.7 x 102 CFU/m3 in WWTP samples, but was higher at up to 4.2 x 103 CFU/m3 in MWMP samples. Bacteria resistant to doxycycline were least prevalent in the analyzed ARB. In the group of 49 tested bacterial strains, 44 harbored at least one of the analyzed antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). A comparison of ARGs in all bacterial strains isolated from WWTP and MWMP air samples revealed the highest diversity and prevalence of ARGs in the samples collected in the mechanical segment of the waste processing line in MWMP and the biological segment of the wastewater processing line in WWTP. The results of this study point to high microbiological contamination of air in MWMPs and WWTPs which are reservoirs of ARB and ARGs and potential sources of AR.

scholarly journals The Role of Urban Wastewater in the Environmental Transmission of Antimicrobial Resistance: The Current Situation in Italy (2010–2019)

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. 1567
Author(s):  
Francesco Triggiano ◽  
Carla Calia ◽  
Giusy Diella ◽  
Maria Teresa Montagna ◽  
Osvalda De Giglio ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
Geographical Area ◽  
National Level ◽  
Antibiotic Resistance Genes ◽  
Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Urban Wastewater ◽  
New Treatment ◽  
Urban Wastewater Treatment

Scientific studies show that urban wastewater treatment plants (UWWTP) are among the main sources of release of antibiotics, antibiotic resistance genes (ARG) and antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) into the environment, representing a risk to human health. This review summarizes selected publications from 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2019, with particular attention to the presence and treatment of ARG and ARB in UWWTPs in Italy. Following a brief introduction, the review is divided into three sections: (i) phenotypic assessment (ARB) and (ii) genotypic assessment (ARG) of resistant microorganisms, and (iii) wastewater treatment processes. Each article was read entirely to extract the year of publication, the geographical area of the UWWTP, the ARB and ARG found, and the type of disinfection treatment used. Among the ARB, we focused on the antibiotic resistance of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Enterococci in UWWTP. The results show that the information presented in the literature to date is not exhaustive; therefore, future scientific studies at the national level are needed to better understand the spread of ARB and ARG, and also to develop new treatment methods to reduce this spread.

scholarly journals Metagenomic Profiles of Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Activated Sludge, Dewatered Sludge and Bioaerosols

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 1516
Author(s):  
Il Han ◽  
Keunje Yoo
Keyword(s):  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Activated Sludge ◽  
Resistance Genes ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
Antibiotic Resistance Genes ◽  
Illumina Hiseq ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Process ◽  
Dewatered Sludge ◽  
Scientific Attention

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) have been considered hotspots for the development and dissemination of antibiotic resistance in the environment. Although researchers have reported a significant increase in bioaerosols in WWTPs, the associated bacterial taxa, antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) remain relatively unknown. In this study, we have investigated the abundance and occurrences of ARGs and MGEs, as well as the bacterial community compositions in activated sludge (AS), dewatered sludge (DS) and bioaerosols (BA) in a WWTP. In total, 153 ARG subtypes belonging to 19 ARG types were identified by the broad scanning of metagenomic profiles obtained using Illumina HiSeq. The results indicated that the total occurrences and abundances of ARGs in AS and DS samples were significantly higher than those in BA samples (p < 0.05). However, some specific ARG types related to sulfonamide, tetracycline, macrolide resistance were present in relatively high abundance in BA samples. Similar to many other full-scale WWTPs, the Proteobacteria (58%) and Bacteroidetes (18%) phyla were dominant in the AS and DS samples, while the Firmicutes (25%) and Actinobacteria (20%) phyla were the most dominant in the BA samples. Although the abundance of genes related to plasmids and integrons in bioaerosols were two to five times less than those in AS and DS samples, different types of MGEs were observed in BA samples. These results suggest that comprehensive analyses of resistomes in BA are required to better understand the emergence of both ARGs and MGEs in the wastewater treatment process due to the significant increase of scientific attention toward bioaerosols effects.

scholarly journals Technologies in Wastewater Treatment Plants for the Removal of Antibiotics, Resistant Bacteria and Antibiotic Resistance Genes: a Review of the Current Literature

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Camila Zapata Zúñiga ◽  
Miguel Angel Parra-Pérez ◽  
Johan Alexander Álvarez-Berrio ◽  
Nidia Isabel Molina-Gómez
Keyword(s):  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Resistance Genes ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
Antibiotic Resistance Genes ◽  
Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Sources Of Information ◽  
Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Antibiotic Resistant ◽  
Treatment Processes

This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of technologies for removing antibiotics, antibiotic-resistant bacteria and their antibiotic resistance genes, and the countries where they have been developed. For this purpose, was conducted a systematic review to identify the tertiary treatments to remove the above-mentioned pollutants. The ScienceDirect and Scopus databases were used as sources of information, taking into account only experimental research from 2006 to 2019 and technologies with removal rates higher than 70% to the information analyses. From the analysis of 9 technologies evaluated, in a set of 47 investigations, photo-Fenton, and electrochemical treatments were found to be the most efficient in the removal of antibiotics; gamma radiation and photocatalysis with TiO2 and UV revealed better results in the removal of resistant microbial agents and their resistance genes, with efficiencies of 99.9%. As one of the largest producers and consumers of antibiotics, China appears to be the country with the most scientific research on the area. The importance of innovation in wastewater treatment processes to achieve better results in the remotion of antibiotics, antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and their resistance genes is highlighted, given the effects on the aquatic ecosystems and public health.

scholarly journals Clustering micropollutants based on initial biotransformations for improved prediction of micropollutant removal during conventional activated sludge treatment

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 554-565 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuxin Wang ◽  
Kathrin Fenner ◽  
Damian E. Helbling
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Activated Sludge ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
Sludge Treatment ◽  
Conventional Activated Sludge ◽  
Micropollutant Removal

The lack of fundamental insights on the fate of micropollutants during activated sludge treatment presents one of the biggest challenges in optimizing their removal in wastewater treatment plants.

scholarly journals Identification of Selected Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Two Different Wastewater Treatment Plant Systems in Poland: A Preliminary Study

Molecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (12) ◽  
pp. 2851 ◽  
Author(s):  
Magdalena Pazda ◽  
Magda Rybicka ◽  
Stefan Stolte ◽  
Krzysztof Piotr Bielawski ◽  
Piotr Stepnowski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Resistance Genes ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
Treatment Plant ◽  
Antibiotic Resistance Genes ◽  
Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Clear Trend ◽  
Resistance Determinants ◽  
Final Effluent

Antibiotic resistance is a growing problem worldwide. The emergence and rapid spread of antibiotic resistance determinants have led to an increasing concern about the potential environmental and public health endangering. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) play an important role in this phenomenon since antibacterial drugs introduced into wastewater can exert a selection pressure on antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Therefore, WWTPs are perceived as the main sources of antibiotics, ARB and ARG spread in various environmental components. Furthermore, technological processes used in WWTPs and its exploitation conditions may influence the effectiveness of antibiotic resistance determinants’ elimination. The main aim of the present study was to compare the occurrence of selected tetracycline and sulfonamide resistance genes in raw influent and final effluent samples from two WWTPs different in terms of size and applied biological wastewater treatment processes (conventional activated sludge (AS)-based and combining a conventional AS-based method with constructed wetlands (CWs)). All 13 selected ARGs were detected in raw influent and final effluent samples from both WWTPs. Significant ARG enrichment, especially for tet(B, K, L, O) and sulIII genes, was observed in conventional WWTP. The obtained data did not show a clear trend in seasonal fluctuations in the abundance of selected resistance genes in wastewaters.

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