Antibiotic resistance in urban aquatic environments: can it be controlled?

Célia M Manaia,Gonçalo Macedo,Despo Fatta-Kassinos,Olga C Nunes

doi:10.1007/s00253-015-7202-0

Abstract

Over the last decade, numerous evidences have contributed to establish a link between the natural and human-impacted environments and the growing public health threat that is the antimicrobial resistance. In the environment, in particular in areas subjected to strong anthropogenic pressures, water plays a major role on the transformation and transport of contaminants including antibiotic residues, antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and antibiotic resistance genes. Therefore, the urban water cycle, comprising water abstraction, disinfection, and distribution for human consumption, and the collection, treatment, and delivery of wastewater to the environment, is a particularly interesting loop to track the fate of antibiotic resistance in the environment and to assess the risks of its transmission back to humans. In this article, the relevance of different transepts of the urban water cycle on the potential enrichment and spread of antibiotic resistance is reviewed. According to this analysis, some gaps of knowledge, research needs, and control measures are suggested. The critical rationale behind the measures suggested and the desirable involvement of some key action players is also discussed.

Highlights

The environment is doubly associated with antibiotic resistance: firstly, because the environment is the natural source of antibiotic resistance genes (ARG), including those harbored by commensal and pathogenic bacteria that threat humans and other animals (D’Costa et al 2011; Vaz-Moreira et al 2014); and secondly, because the environment is nowadays a major receptor of contaminant antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and ARG, released from humans and other animals that do accumulate in the environment and spread across different niches (Rizzo et al 2013b; Vredenburg et al 2014; Vaz-Moreira et al 2014)
In particular in areas subjected to strong anthropogenic pressures, water plays a major role on the transformation and transport of contaminants including antibiotic residues, antibiotic- resistant bacteria, and antibiotic resistance genes
The urban water cycle, comprising water abstraction, disinfection, and distribution for human consumption, and the collection, treatment, and delivery of wastewater to the environment, is a interesting loop to track the fate of antibiotic resistance in the environment and to assess the risks of its trans- mission back to humans

Summary

Introduction

The environment is doubly associated with antibiotic resistance: firstly, because the environment is the natural source of antibiotic resistance genes (ARG), including those harbored by commensal and pathogenic bacteria that threat humans and other animals (D’Costa et al 2011; Vaz-Moreira et al 2014); and secondly, because the environment is nowadays a major receptor of contaminant antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and ARG, released from humans and other animals that do accumulate in the environment and spread across different niches (Rizzo et al 2013b; Vredenburg et al 2014; Vaz-Moreira et al 2014). Water is one of the most important habitats and routes of propagation of bacteria, playing a major role in the dissemination of antibiotic resistance between the environment and humans and other animals (Vaz-Moreira et al 2014).

Results

Conclusion