The influence of antibiotics on wastewater treatment processes and the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria

Water Sci Technol. 2018 May;77(9-10):2320-2326. doi: 10.2166/wst.2018.153.

Abstract

The influence of antibiotics, namely doxycycline, gentamicin, penicillin, nitrofurantoin, and rifampicin, on wastewater treatment was assessed. The presence of 100-300 μg/L of antibiotics (63.52-134.41 mg/g.d.w·d) marginally influenced organic matter degradation, without impacting nitrogen or phosphorus concentrations. However, a significant increase in the number of antibiotic-resistant bacteria was observed, which varied with different antibiotics. The largest number of bacteria became resistant to nitrofurantoin and penicillin. After the process, some multi-resistant strains were isolated from the sludge. Two of them revealed the activity of carbapenamase, the enzyme directly related to resistance against β-lactam antibiotics.

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Bacteria / drug effects*
  • Drug Resistance, Bacterial*
  • Sewage / microbiology
  • Waste Disposal, Fluid
  • Wastewater / microbiology*
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Sewage
  • Waste Water
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical