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Environmental Science and Pollution... Dec 2023Large amounts of antibiotics have been discharged into wastewater during the COVID-19 pandemic due to overuse and misuse of antibiotics to treat patients....
Large amounts of antibiotics have been discharged into wastewater during the COVID-19 pandemic due to overuse and misuse of antibiotics to treat patients. Wastewater-based surveillance can be used as an early warning for antibiotic resistance (AR) emergence. The present study analyzed municipal wastewater corresponding to the major pandemic waves (WW1, WW2, and WW3) in India along with hospital wastewater (Ho) taken as a benchmark for AR. Commonly prescribed antibiotics during a pandemic, azithromycin and cefixime residues, were found in the range of 2.1-2.6 μg/L in Ho and WW2. Total residual antibiotic concentration was less in WW2; however, the total antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) count was 1065.6 ppm compared to 85.2 ppm in Ho. Metagenome and RT-qPCR analysis indicated a positive correlation between antibiotics and non-corresponding ARGs (blaOXA, aadA, cat, aph3, and ere), where 7.2-7.5% was carried by plasmid in the bacterial community of WW1 and WW2. Moreover, as the abundance of the dfrA and int1 genes varied most among municipal wastewater, they can be suggested as AR markers for the pandemic. The common pathogens Streptococcus, Escherichia, Shigella, and Aeromonas were putative ARG hosts in metagenome-assembled genomes. The ARG profile and antibiotic levels varied between municipal wastewaters but were fairly similar for WW2 and Ho, suggesting the impact of the pandemic in shaping the resistome pattern. The study provides insights into the resistome dynamic, AR markers, and host-ARG association in wastewater during the COVID-19 surge. Continued surveillance and identification of intervention points for AR beyond the pandemic are essential to curbing the environmental spread of ARGs in the near future.
Topics: Humans; Wastewater; Genes, Bacterial; Pandemics; COVID-19; Drug Resistance, Microbial; Anti-Bacterial Agents
PubMed: 37955733
DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-30932-8 -
Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety Jul 2023The evolvement and development of antibiotic resistance in microorganisms may be influenced by metals; however, it is still unclear how cadmium (Cd) and copper (Cu)...
The evolvement and development of antibiotic resistance in microorganisms may be influenced by metals; however, it is still unclear how cadmium (Cd) and copper (Cu) combined affect the distribution and presence of antibiotic-resistance genes (ARGs) in rhizosphere soil. The aims of this research were to (1) compare the distribution patterns of bacterial communities and ARGs in response to the effects of Cd and Cu both separately and combined; (2) explore the possible mechanisms underlying the variation in soil bacterial communities and ARGs in addition to the combined effects of Cd, Cu, and various environmental variables (nutrients, pH, etc.); and (3) provide a reference for assessing the risks of metals (Cd and Cu) and ARGs. The findings showed that the multidrug resistance genes acrA and acrB and the transposon gene intI-1 were present in high relative abundance in bacterial communities. Cadmium and Cu had a substantial interaction effect on the abundance of acrA, whereas Cu had a notable main effect on the abundance of intI-1. According to the network analysis, the strong links between bacterial taxa and specific ARGs revealed that most ARGs were hosted by Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Bacteroidetes. According to structural equation modeling, Cd had a larger effect on ARGs than Cu. Compared to previous analyses of ARGs, bacterial community diversity had little effect on ARGs in this study. Overall, the results may have important consequences for determining the possible hazard of soil metals and extend the understanding of how Cd and Cu co-select ARGs in rhizosphere soils.
Topics: Cadmium; Copper; Soil; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Rhizosphere; Soil Microbiology; Drug Resistance, Microbial; Bacteria; Genes, Bacterial
PubMed: 37196522
DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115008 -
Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry Mar 2024Antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) are important environmental contaminants. Nonetheless, what drives the evolution, spread, and... (Review)
Review
Antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) are important environmental contaminants. Nonetheless, what drives the evolution, spread, and transmission of antibiotic resistance dissemination is still poorly understood. The abundance of ARB and ARGs is often elevated in human-impacted areas, especially in environments receiving fecal wastes, or in the presence of complex mixtures of chemical contaminants, such as pharmaceuticals and personal care products. Self-replication, mutation, horizontal gene transfer, and adaptation to different environmental conditions contribute to the persistence and proliferation of ARB in habitats under strong anthropogenic influence. Our review discusses the interplay between chemical contaminants and ARB and their respective genes, specifically in reference to co-occurrence, potential biostimulation, and selective pressure effects, and gives an overview of mitigation by existing man-made and natural barriers. Evidence and strategies to improve the assessment of human health risks due to environmental antibiotic resistance are also discussed. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:637-652. © 2022 SETAC.
Topics: Humans; Genes, Bacterial; Bacteria; Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Drug Resistance, Microbial; Cosmetics; Pharmaceutical Preparations; Anti-Bacterial Agents
PubMed: 36582150
DOI: 10.1002/etc.5555 -
The Science of the Total Environment Jan 2024The global increase of antibiotic resistance (AR) and resistant infections call for effective surveillance methods for understanding and mitigating (re)-emerging public... (Review)
Review
The global increase of antibiotic resistance (AR) and resistant infections call for effective surveillance methods for understanding and mitigating (re)-emerging public health risks. Wastewater surveillance (WS) of antibiotic resistance is an emerging, but currently under-utilized decision-support tool in public health systems. Recent years have witnessed an increase in evidence linking antibiotic resistance in wastewaters to that of the community. To date, very few comprehensive reviews exist on the application of WS to understand AR and resistant infections in population. Current and emerging AR detection methods, and their merits and limitations are discussed. Wastewater surveillance has several merits relative to individual testing, including; (1) low per capita testing cost, (2) high spatial coverage, (3) low requirement for diagnostic equipment, and (4) detection of health threats ahead of real outbreaks. The applications of WS as an early warning system and decision support tool to understand and mitigate AR are discussed. Wastewater surveillance could be a tool of choice in low-income settings lacking resources and diagnostic facilities for individual testing. To demonstrate the utility of WS, empirical evidence from field case studies is presented. However, constraints still exist, including; (1) lack of standardized protocols, (2) the clinical utility and sensitivity of WS-based data, (3) uncertainties in relating WS data to pathogenic and virulent bacteria, and (4) whether or not AR in stools and ultimately wastewater represent the complete human resistome. Finally, further prospects are presented, include knowledge gaps on; (1) development of low-cost biosensors for AR, (2) development of WS protocols (sampling, processing, interpretation), (3) further pilot scale studies to understand the opportunities and limits of WS, and (4) development of computer-based analytical tools to facilitate rapid data collection, visualization and interpretation. Therefore, the present paper discusses the principles, opportunities, and constraints of wastewater surveillance applications to understand AR and safeguard public health.
Topics: Humans; Wastewater; Wastewater-Based Epidemiological Monitoring; Drug Resistance, Microbial; Bacteria; Disease Outbreaks
PubMed: 37914125
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168056 -
Revue de L'infirmiere Oct 2023The Haute Autorité de Santé (HAS), created by the French Health Insurance Act of August 13, 2004, is an independent scientific public authority, with legal personality...
The Haute Autorité de Santé (HAS), created by the French Health Insurance Act of August 13, 2004, is an independent scientific public authority, with legal personality and financial autonomy. Involved in the fight against antibiotic resistance, the HAS provides professionals and the general public with a range of tools to encourage the adoption of best practices in the use of antibiotics.
Topics: Humans; Drug Resistance, Microbial; France
PubMed: 37838364
DOI: 10.1016/j.revinf.2023.08.004 -
International Journal of Molecular... Oct 2023Misuse and abuse of antibiotics on humans, cattle, and crops have led to the selection of multi-resistant pathogenic bacteria, the most feared 'superbugs'. Infections... (Review)
Review
Misuse and abuse of antibiotics on humans, cattle, and crops have led to the selection of multi-resistant pathogenic bacteria, the most feared 'superbugs'. Infections caused by superbugs are progressively difficult to treat, with a subsequent increase in lethality: the toll on human lives is predicted to reach 10 million by 2050. Here we review three concepts linked to the growing resistance to antibiotics, namely (i) the , which refers to the collection of bacterial genes that confer resistance to antibiotics, (ii) the , which includes all the mobile genetic elements that participate in the spreading of antibiotic resistance among bacteria by horizontal gene transfer processes, and (iii) the , which refers to the set of genes that are expressed when bacteria try to colonize new niches. We also discuss the strategies that can be used to tackle bacterial infections and propose an with the bacterial world so that instead of war and destruction of the 'fierce enemy' we can achieve a peaceful coexistence (the concept) between the human and the bacterial worlds. This, in turn, will contribute to microbial biodiversity, which is crucial in a globally changing climate due to anthropogenic activities.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Cattle; Bacteria; Genes, Bacterial; Bacterial Infections; Drug Resistance, Microbial; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Drug Resistance, Bacterial
PubMed: 37894729
DOI: 10.3390/ijms242015047 -
MSphere Oct 2023Corrosion inhibitors, including zinc orthophosphate, sodium orthophosphate, and sodium silicate, are commonly used to prevent the corrosion of drinking water...
Corrosion inhibitors, including zinc orthophosphate, sodium orthophosphate, and sodium silicate, are commonly used to prevent the corrosion of drinking water infrastructure. Metals such as zinc are known stressors for antibiotic resistance selection, and phosphates can increase microbial growth in drinking water distribution systems (DWDS). Yet, the influence of corrosion inhibitor type on antimicrobial resistance in DWDS is unknown. Here, we show that sodium silicates can decrease antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic-resistance genes (ARGs), while zinc orthophosphate increases ARB and ARGs in source water microbial communities. Based on controlled bench-scale studies, zinc orthophosphate addition significantly increased the abundance of ARB resistant to ciprofloxacin, sulfonamides, trimethoprim, and vancomycin, as well as the genes , EΔ1, an indication of resistance to quaternary ammonium compounds, and the integron-integrase gene 1. In contrast, sodium silicate dosage at 10 mg/L resulted in decreased bacterial growth and antibiotic resistance selection compared to the other corrosion inhibitor additions. Source water collected from the drinking water treatment plant intake pipe resulted in less significant changes in ARB and ARG abundance due to corrosion inhibitor addition compared to source water collected from the pier at the recreational beach. In tandem with the antibiotic resistance shifts, significant microbial community composition changes also occurred. Overall, the corrosion inhibitor sodium silicate resulted in the least selection for antibiotic resistance, which suggests it is the preferred corrosion inhibitor option for minimizing antibiotic resistance proliferation in DWDS. However, the selection of an appropriate corrosion inhibitor must also be appropriate for the water chemistry of the system (e.g., pH, alkalinity) to minimize metal leaching first and foremost and to adhere to the lead and copper rule. IMPORTANCE Antibiotic resistance is a growing public health concern across the globe and was recently labeled the silent pandemic. Scientists aim to identify the source of antibiotic resistance and control points to mitigate the spread of antibiotic resistance. Drinking water is a direct exposure route to humans and contains antibiotic-resistant bacteria and associated resistance genes. Corrosion inhibitors are added to prevent metallic pipes in distribution systems from corroding, and the type of corrosion inhibitor selected could also have implications on antibiotic resistance. Indeed, we found that sodium silicate can minimize selection of antibiotic resistance while phosphate-based corrosion inhibitors can promote antibiotic resistance. These findings indicate that sodium silicate is a preferred corrosion inhibitor choice for mitigation of antibiotic resistance.
Topics: Humans; Drinking Water; Corrosion; Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Drug Resistance, Microbial; Zinc; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Microbiota; Phosphates; Sodium
PubMed: 37681947
DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00307-23 -
Water Research Dec 2023Microplastics, antibiotics, and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) represent prominent emerging contaminants that can potentially hinder the efficacy of biological...
Microplastics, antibiotics, and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) represent prominent emerging contaminants that can potentially hinder the efficacy of biological wastewater treatment and pose health risks. Plastisphere as a distinct ecological niche for microorganisms, acts as a repository for ARGs and potential pathogenic bacteria. Nonetheless, the spread pattern of extracellular ARGs (eARGs) and intracellular ARGs (iARGs) in plastisphere under antibiotic exposure was not yet known. This study aimed to investigate disparities in extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) production, extracellular and intracellular microbial community structures, as well as the transmission of eARGs and iARGs between activated sludge and plastisphere in an anaerobic/anoxic/oxic system under sulfadiazine (SDZ) exposure. SDZ was found to enhance EPS production in activated sludge and plastisphere. Interestingly, as SDZ removal efficiency increased, EPS content decreased in activated sludge and plastisphere collected from oxic zone, and continued to increase in plastisphere samples collected from anaerobic and anoxic zones. There were significant differences in microbial community structure between activated sludge and plastisphere, and the DNA fragments of potential pathogenic bacteria were detected in extracellular samples. SDZ exhibited a promoting effect on the propagation of eARGs, which were more abundant in the plastisphere than in activated sludge, thus heightening the risk of ARGs dissemination. Extracellular mobile genetic elements played a pivotal role in driving the spread of eARGs, while the microbial community induced the changes of iARGs. Potential pathogenic bacteria emerged as potential hosts for ARGs and mobile genetic elements within activated sludge and plastisphere, leading to more serious environmental threats.
Topics: Sewage; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Sulfadiazine; Plastics; Genes, Bacterial; Drug Resistance, Microbial; Bacteria
PubMed: 37898001
DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120752 -
Environmental Science & Technology Jul 2023Antibiotics present in the natural environment would induce the generation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB), causing great environmental risks. The effects of...
Antibiotics present in the natural environment would induce the generation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB), causing great environmental risks. The effects of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and antibiotics on bacterial transport/deposition in porous media yet are unclear. By using without ARGs as antibiotic-susceptible bacteria (ASB) and their corresponding isogenic mutants with ARGs in plasmids as ARB, the effects of ARGs and antibiotics on bacterial transport in porous media were examined under different conditions (1-4 m/d flow rates and 5-100 mM NaCl solutions). The transport behaviors of ARB were comparable with those of ASB under antibiotic-free conditions, indicating that ARGs present within cells had negligible influence on bacterial transport in antibiotic-free solutions. Interestingly, antibiotics (5-1000 μg/L gentamicin) present in solutions increased the transport of both ARB and ASB with more significant enhancement for ASB. This changed bacterial transport induced by antibiotics held true in solution with humic acid, in river water and groundwater samples. Antibiotics enhanced the transport of ARB and ASB in porous media via different mechanisms (ARB: competition of deposition sites; ASB: enhanced motility and chemotaxis effects). Clearly, since ASB are likely to escape sites containing antibiotics, these locations are more likely to accumulate ARB and their environmental risks would increase.
Topics: Genes, Bacterial; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Porosity; Escherichia coli; Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Bacteria; Drug Resistance, Microbial
PubMed: 37406198
DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c03768 -
Environmental Science and Pollution... Nov 2023Tidal flat areas are important resources for land development and are becoming antibiotic resistance receivers that trigger major health concerns. The spatial...
Tidal flat areas are important resources for land development and are becoming antibiotic resistance receivers that trigger major health concerns. The spatial distributions of forty-nine antibiotics, nine antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), one mobile gene element (MGE) gene, and nine available metals in the soils and sediments along the coastlines of the Yellow Sea in China were quantified. Hierarchical linear model analysis was used to explore relationships between the antibiotics and ARGs across multiple effects resulting from human activities and environmental factors. Fish farm sediments and farmland soils showed high levels of quinolones (QNs) (maximum 637 ng·g), sulfonamides (SAs) (maximum 221 ng·g), and corresponding ARGs. Significant positive correlations (P from 5.47 × 10 to 0.0487) were observed between the antibiotics (QNs, SAs, and chlortetracycline) and their corresponding ARGs (qnrA, qnrD, aac(6')-Ib-cr, dfrA, sul2, and tetA), indicating the selective pressure from antibiotics in soils and sediments. Nine available metals had positive correlations with at least one ARG, indicating heavy metal pollution could enhance the ARGs. Sheep and poultry husbandry and marine aquaculture contribute the most to the antibiotic resistance in the coastlines. In conclusion, antibiotic pollutions have promoting effects at sub-inhibitory concentrations and more attention should be given to inhibit the enrichment of ARGs during tidal flat reclamation processes. The study also suggests the induction effects from metal pollutions, MGE spread, and the antibiotic pollutions from the usage in livestock and aquaculture.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Sheep; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Genes, Bacterial; Drug Resistance, Microbial; Metals, Heavy; Soil
PubMed: 37843708
DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-30087-6