Metagenomics unveils the role of hospitals and wastewater treatment plants on the environmental burden of antibiotic resistance genes and opportunistic pathogens

The Science of The Total Environment, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 961, С. 178403 - 178403

Опубликована: Янв. 1, 2025

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global health challenge, with hospitals and wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) serving as significant pathways for the dissemination of antibiotic genes (ARGs). This study investigates potential wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) an early warning system assessing burden AMR at population level. In this comprehensive year-long study, effluent was collected weekly from three large hospitals, treated untreated were monthly associated community WWTPs. Metagenomic analysis revealed significantly higher relative abundance diversity ARGs in hospital than Notably, conferring to clinically antibiotics such β-lactams, aminoglycosides, sulfonamides, tetracyclines more prevalent effluents. Conversely, rifampicin MLS (macrolides-lincosamide-streptogramin) commonly detected WWTPs, particularly effluent. Network identified bacterial hosts, which are key carriers these ARGs. The further highlighted variability ARG removal efficiencies across none achieving complete elimination or reduction diversity. Additionally, profiles remained relatively consistent throughout indicating persistent release baseload pathogenic bacteria into surface waters, potentially polluting aquatic environments entering food chain. underscores need routine WBE surveillance, enhanced strategies, hospital-level source control measures mitigate environment.

Язык: Английский

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Wastewater-based analysis of antimicrobial resistance at UK airports: Evaluating the potential opportunities and challenges

Environment International, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 195, С. 109260 - 109260

Опубликована: Янв. 1, 2025

Язык: Английский

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High-Throughput Qpcr Profiling of Antimicrobial Resistance and Bacterial Loads in Wastewater and Receiving Environments: A Risk Assessment

Опубликована: Янв. 1, 2025

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are hot spots for the acquisition and spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This regional-based study quantified antibiotic genes (ARGs), mobile genetic elements (MGEs), bacteria in hospital community-derived wastewater receiving environments, using high-throughput qPCR (HT-qPCR). is first to apply Resistomap's Antibiotic Resistance Gene Index (ARGI) find overall ARG load AMR risk assessment. ARGI WWTPs ranged from 2.0 2.3, indicating higher relative levels than mean European 2.0, but lower global 2.4. The highest diversity abundance ARGs were observed untreated community wastewater. reduction total during (0.2- 2 logs) (0.3-1.5 varied spatio-temporally across WWTPs. Despite a decrease bacterial treated effluents, substantial loads still released into environments. Notably, coastal sediments comparable those wastewater, most shared between highlighting impact discharge on these ecosystems. Sewage outfall exposure increased shellfish, emphasising risks shellfish hygiene. provides evidence inform policymaking, advanced methods combined storm overflow (CSO) management mitigate release, protecting water users food chain.

Язык: Английский

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High-Throughput qPCR Profiling of Antimicrobial Resistance Genes and Bacterial Loads in Wastewater and Receiving Environments

Environmental Pollution, Год журнала: 2025, Номер unknown, С. 126096 - 126096

Опубликована: Март 1, 2025

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are hot spots for the acquisition and spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This regional-based study quantified antibiotic genes (ARGs), mobile genetic elements (MGEs), bacteria in hospital community-derived wastewater receiving environments, using high-throughput qPCR (HT-qPCR). is first to apply Resistomap's Antibiotic Resistance Gene Index (ARGI) as a standardised metric find overall AMR level across different WWTPs. ARGI WWTPs ranged from 2.0 2.3, indicating higher relative ARG levels than mean European 2.0, but lower global 2.4. The highest diversity abundance ARGs were observed untreated community wastewater. reduction total during (0.2- 2 logs) (0.3-1.5 varied spatio-temporally Despite decrease bacterial treated effluents, substantial loads still released into environments. Notably, coastal sediments comparable those wastewater, most shared between highlighting impact discharge on these ecosystems. Sewage outfall exposure increased shellfish, emphasising risks shellfish hygiene. provides evidence inform policymaking, advanced methods combined sewer overflow (CSO) management mitigate release, protecting water users food chain.

Язык: Английский

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Role of earthworms and their excretion products in reducing antimicrobial resistance and putative pathogens during vermicomposting

Chemical Engineering Journal, Год журнала: 2025, Номер unknown, С. 162765 - 162765

Опубликована: Апрель 1, 2025

Язык: Английский

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Toileting behaviours of the UK public: insights for reducing demographic bias in wastewater-based epidemiology sampling strategies

Research Square (Research Square), Год журнала: 2025, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Май 7, 2025

Wastewater-based epidemiology has gained increasing interest for its application as a public health surveillance tool, yet the impact of toileting habits over representativeness wastewater data remains underexplored. To address this, we surveyed toilet UK (n = 2109). Most respondents defecated once daily (52%), with higher frequencies and morning defecation more common among male older participants. Willingness to use facilities outside home was lower than urination, varied by location (from 32% at paid toilets 75% work). Cleanliness leading reason avoiding (67%), while safety concerns were frequently reported females (43%). Those aged 18–24 less willing participants, citing shyness proportion. These behavioural patterns suggest that composite or time-resolved grab sampling can help account demographic influence diurnal patterns. Furthermore, near-source studies— particularly in non-residential settings where is lower—should strongly consider detection sensitivity their design. Overall, demonstrate deeper understanding population’s crucial ensure deliver effective insights.

Язык: Английский

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Atmospheric detection, prevalence, transmission, health and ecological consequences of antibiotic resistance genes and resistant bacteria: A comprehensive review

Emerging contaminants, Год журнала: 2025, Номер unknown, С. 100514 - 100514

Опубликована: Май 1, 2025

Язык: Английский

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How to establish a hospital wastewater surveillance program for antimicrobial resistance: Current experience and future knowledge gaps

CMI Communications, Год журнала: 2025, Номер unknown, С. 105087 - 105087

Опубликована: Май 1, 2025

Язык: Английский

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Development and application of a highly sensitive quadruple droplet digital PCR method for simultaneous quantification of sulfonamide resistance genes

Frontiers in Microbiology, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 16

Опубликована: Май 21, 2025

Sulfonamide resistance genes ( sul genes) have a high detection rate and strong transmissibility. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop more efficient methods enhance the monitoring of genes. Current analytical are insufficient for simultaneous accurate quantification all sulfonamides To overcome this limitation, quadruple method was established by integrating droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) with ratio-based probe-mixing strategy, achieving sensitive sul1 , sul2 sul3 sul4 in diverse matrices. Correspondingly, primers probes were meticulously designed rigorously validated, critical parameters ddPCR such as annealing temperature, concentrations systematically optimized. As results, demonstrates excellent sensitivity limits (LOD) ranging from 3.98 6.16 copies/reaction, good repeatability (coefficient variation <25%), adequately meeting requirement quantification. Furthermore, new applied across 115 samples, including human feces, animal-derived foods, sewage surface water, positive rates 100% 99.13% 93.91% 68.70% concentration non-detection 2.14 × 10 9 copies/g. In summary, developed has potential serve tool

Язык: Английский

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The effect of sample type and location on industrial workplace sink and hand dryer microbiomes

BMC Microbiology, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 25(1)

Опубликована: Май 26, 2025

Abstract One major issue in tackling antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is the ability to effectively track spread environments where surveillance limited. Such include those experiencing high volumes of hand washing and drying from multiple users. This study characterised microbial populations resistomes two different sample types a pharmaceutical industrial site as part an AMR environmental programme. Paired samples were collected dryers adjacent sinks distinct sampling locations: toilets ‘wet’ labs, locations associated with ‘dry’ activities. Microbial significantly sinks, whereas there was no significant difference based on location. The opposite effect observed for resistomes, profiles differed location, but not type. When both type location considered together, differences microbiomes driven primarily by dryer locations. Analysis metagenomically-assembled genomes revealed presence many poorly organisms, suggested specific families predominated terms ARG carriage. emphasises impact human activities determining resistome commonly used appliances, need continued programmes.

Язык: Английский

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