Abstract
Domestic and industrial wastewater discharges harbor rich bacterial communities, including both pathogenic and commensal organisms that are antibiotic-resistant (AR). AR pathogens pose a potential threat to human and animal health. In wastewater treatment plants (WWTP), bacteria encounter environments suitable for horizontal gene transfer, providing an opportunity for bacterial cells to acquire new antibiotic-resistant genes. With many entry points to environmental components, especially water and soil, WWTPs are considered a critical control point for antibiotic resistance. The primary and secondary units of conventional WWTPs are not designed for the reduction of resistant microbes. Constructed wetlands (CWs) are viable wastewater treatment options with the potential for mitigating AR bacteria, their genes, pathogens, and general pollutants. Encouraging performance for the removal of AR (2–4 logs) has highlighted the applicability of CW on fields. Their low cost of construction, operation and maintenance makes them well suited for applications across the globe, especially in developing and low-income countries. The present review highlights a better understanding of the performance efficiency of conventional treatment plants and CWs for the elimination/reduction of AR from wastewater. They are viable alternatives that can be used for secondary/tertiary treatment or effluent polishing in combination with WWTP or in a decentralized manner.
Highlights
Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are a central distribution point where effluents are distributed to receiving water bodies
The present study is a literature review of studies related to antibiotic resistance in Constructed wetlands (CWs) and wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) and its effluent discharge to water compartment, which is a major challenge in developing/less developed countries
We framed the question of concern regarding the protocols for antibiotic resistance, restrictive use of antibiotics, treatment of wastewater, effluent discharges and use and implementation of natural treatment system for antibiotic-resistant genes (ARGs)/antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) removal with a focus on ARGs in wastewater
Summary
Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are a central distribution point where effluents are distributed to receiving water bodies. WWTPs are efficient for the reduction of many pollutants but have not shown efficiency for the removal of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic-resistant genes (ARGs) [1,2]. Municipal wastewater contains a rich microbial community derived from feces and other sources, including both naturally occurring and anthropogenically enriched ARBs, along with unmetabolized drugs and their metabolites which are secreted in urine and feces [3,4]. The presence of heavy metals, antibiotic residues, and other emerging contaminants add to the load in WWTP that facilitates conditions for horizontal gene transfer and accelerates the development of ARB, including uptake of ARGs by pathogens. WWTP effluents and biosolids are directly discharged to water bodies, agricultural lands, or soil, and there is growing evidence that treated effluents transport ARBs and ARGs through surface runoff, discharge to water bodies and percolating into groundwater [5,6].
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