scholarly journals Increased Antimicrobial and Multidrug Resistance Downstream of Wastewater Treatment Plants in an Urban Watershed

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maitreyee Mukherjee ◽  
Edward Laird ◽  
Terry J. Gentry ◽  
John P. Brooks ◽  
Raghupathy Karthikeyan
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Multidrug Resistance ◽  
Surface Water ◽  
Heterotrophic Bacteria ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Diffusion Method ◽  
Urban Watershed ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Wwtp Effluent

Development and spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and multidrug resistance (MDR) through propagation of antibiotic resistance genes (ARG) in various environments is a global emerging public health concern. The role of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) as hot spots for the dissemination of AMR and MDR has been widely pointed out by the scientific community. In this study, we collected surface water samples from sites upstream and downstream of two WWTP discharge points in an urban watershed in the Bryan-College Station (BCS), Texas area, over a period of nine months. E. coli isolates were tested for resistance to ampicillin, tetracycline, sulfamethoxazole, ciprofloxacin, cephalothin, cefoperazone, gentamycin, and imipenem using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. Antimicrobial resistant heterotrophic bacteria were cultured on R2A media amended with ampicillin, ciprofloxacin, tetracycline, and sulfamethoxazole for analyzing heterotrophic bacteria capable of growth on antibiotic-containing media. In addition, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) method was used to measure eight ARG – tetA, tetW, aacA, ampC, mecA, ermA, blaTEM, and intI1 in the surface water collected at each time point. Significant associations (p < 0.05) were observed between the locations of sampling sites relative to WWTP discharge points and the rate of E. coli isolate resistance to tetracycline, ampicillin, cefoperazone, ciprofloxacin, and sulfamethoxazole together with an increased rate of isolate MDR. The abundance of antibiotic-resistant heterotrophs was significantly greater (p < 0.05) downstream of WWTPs compared to upstream locations for all tested antibiotics. Consistent with the results from the culture-based methods, the concentrations of all ARG were substantially higher in the downstream sites compared to the upstream sites, particularly in the site immediately downstream of the WWTP effluent discharges (except mecA). In addition, the Class I integron (intI1) genes were detected in high amounts at all sites and all sampling points, and were about ∼20 times higher in the downstream sites (2.5 × 107 copies/100 mL surface water) compared to the upstream sites (1.2 × 106 copies/100 mL surface water). Results suggest that the treated WWTP effluent discharges into surface waters can potentially contribute to the occurrence and prevalence of AMR in urban watersheds. In addition to detecting increased ARG in the downstream sites by qPCR, findings from this study also report an increase in viable AMR (HPC) and MDR (E. coli) in these sites. This data will benefit establishment of improved environmental regulations and practices to help manage AMR/MDR and ARG discharges into the environment, and to develop mitigation strategies and effective treatment of wastewater.

scholarly journals Virulence and plasmidic resistance determinants of Escherichia coli isolated from municipal and hospital wastewater treatment plants

2014 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 311-318 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vera Calhau ◽  
Catarina Mendes ◽  
Angelina Pena ◽  
Nuno Mendonça ◽  
Gabriela Jorge Da Silva
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Quinolone Resistance ◽  
Diffusion Method ◽  
Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Hospital Wastewater ◽  
Aminoglycoside Resistance ◽  
E Coli

Escherichia coli is simultaneously an indicator of water contamination and a human pathogen. This study aimed to characterize the virulence and resistance of E. coli from municipal and hospital wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in central Portugal. From a total of 193 isolates showing reduced susceptibility to cefotaxime and/or nalidixic acid, 20 E. coli with genetically distinct fingerprint profiles were selected and characterized. Resistance to antimicrobials was determined using the disc diffusion method. Extended spectrum β-lactamase and plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance genes, phylogroups, pathogenicity islands (PAIs) and virulence genes were screened by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). CTX-M producers were typed by multilocus sequence typing. Resistance to beta-lactams was associated with the presence of blaTEM,blaSHV, blaCTX-M-15 and blaCTX-M-32. Plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance was associated with qnrA, qnrS and aac(6′)-Ib-cr. Aminoglycoside resistance and multidrug-resistant phenotypes were also detected. PAI IV536, PAI IICFT073, PAI II536 and PAI ICFT073, and uropathogenic genes iutA, papAH and sfa/foc were detected. With regard to the clinical ST131 clone, it carried blaCTX-M-15, blaTEM-type, qnrS and aac(6′)-lb-cr; IncF and IncP plasmids, and virulence factors PAI IV536, PAI ICFT073, PAI IICFT073, iutA, sfa/foc and papAH were identified in the effluent of a hospital plant. WWTPs contribute to the dissemination of virulent and resistant bacteria in water ecosystems, constituting an environmental and public health risk.

Isolation frequency of uropathogenic strains and search for ESBL producing Enterobacteriaceae isolated from patients with UTI in Bechar (Algeria)

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elhassan Benyagoub ◽  
Miaad K. Alkhudhairy ◽  
S. Mohamed Benchaib ◽  
Abdelmadjid Zaalan ◽  
Youcef Mekhfi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Multidrug Resistance ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Diffusion Method ◽  
Resistance Pattern ◽  
Disk Diffusion Method ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Klebsiella Spp

Background: Emergence of multidrug-resistant uropathogenic strains mainly the global spread of extended-spectrum betalactamase (ESBL) genes accompanied both by uncontrolled use of antibacterial agents and a considerable decrease in their activities makes the monitoring of the resistance pattern one of necessary means that could help the medical practitioners to choose the best treatment. For this purpose and during four months from March 1 to June 30 (2019), an experimental study has been carried out on urine specimens of 123 inpatients (IP) and outpatients (OP) at infectious disease service Boudjemaa TOURABI Public Hospital of Bechar (Algeria), aiming the detection of ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae uropathogenic strains. Methods: Firstly, the antibiotic susceptibility testing has been carried out by using the disk diffusion method to determine not only the multidrug resistance patterns, but also the multiple antibiotic resistance indexes of uropathogenic strains isolated from clinical IP and OP samples. Secondly, the ESBL detection was done by using the following methods: synergy tests based on the synergy between a thirdgeneration cephalosporin and clavulanate, double-disc synergy test (DDST) and phenotypic tests on a cloxacillin-containing agar. Results: As a result, 56 patients had a urinary tract infection (UTI) in overall 123 patients; a frequency of 45,52%. Through a UTI’s frequency of 64,7%, the female gender was the most affected. All age groups were affected by UTI, with a mean age of 38,47±19,97 years old. Knowing that UTIs’ patients having ages ranged from 16 to 49 years old were most affected compared to other ages’ groups, with a frequency of 66,6 and 50% for female and male gender, respectively. The microbial strains represented by the bacteria group were predominant, ie (98,22%) followed by yeasts (1,78%), where Gram-negative bacilli showed (96,36%) of the uropathogenic agents, so (3,64%) were Gram-positive bacteria. The antibiotic resistance profile of isolated Enterobacteriaceae showed very high resistance rates for the species of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp, and Proteus spp to aminopenicillins, cephalosporins, and less against carbapenems and other drug groups. E. coli had presented the highest multidrug resistance followed by Klebsiella spp with a MAR index ranged from 0,53 to 0,82. Within this range, a total of 28 isolate (25 E. coli, 2 Klebsiella spp, and 1 Proteus mirabilis) had shown resistance against 9 to 14 out of the 17 tested antibiotics. The rate of ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae strains was 23,07 and 55,26% for inpatients and outpatients respectively, where E.coli was the most important ESBL producers out of all isolated strains. Conclusion: An alarming ESBLs rate for outpatients which is usually higher among inpatients with UTI, who receive several classes of antibiotics. Such condition should be considered as a major public health concern, and measures must be taken to establish the sources and drivers of this issue. Thus, the findings of this research pushes health sector stakeholders as well as scientific communities to act on reducing the transmission of the multidrug-resistant strains that threatens several classes of life-saving antibiotics.

scholarly journals Pharmaceutical Pollution: Azole Antifungal Drugs and Resistance of Opportunistic Pathogenic Yeasts in Wastewater and Environmental Water

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Mzimkhulu E. Monapathi ◽  
Joseph C. Oguegbulu ◽  
Lilian Adogo ◽  
Michael Klink ◽  
Bamidele Okoli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Surface Water ◽  
Antifungal Agents ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
Environmental Water ◽  
Antifungal Drugs ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Management Actions ◽  
Surface Water And Groundwater ◽  
Opportunistic Pathogenic

The occurrence of residual antifungal agents through indiscriminate prophylactic use and inappropriate disposal has been reported in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), surface water, and groundwater environments. Opportunistic pathogenic aquatic yeasts develop resistance to commonly used antifungal agents through continued exposure to residual antifungal agents in environmental waters. This poses a major public health concern. The present review attempts to provide a brief description of antifungal drugs, with a focus on the most widely used class of antifungal drugs, the azoles, as emerging contaminants in environmental water. Routes of exposure of azole antifungal drugs in wastewater treatment plants, surface water, and groundwater are discussed. The presence of pathogenic yeasts in environmental water, the associated azole resistance, and the risk of exposure to humans and microbiota are highlighted. Management actions needed to curtail the spread and minimise the risks are also indicated. Further research on the occurrence of antifungal agents in wastewater and environmental water is vital to better understand and mitigate the associated health-related risks.

scholarly journals Ultrafiltration Process in Disinfection and Advanced Treatment of Tertiary Treated Wastewater

Membranes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 221
Author(s):  
Rafał Tytus Bray ◽  
Katarzyna Jankowska ◽  
Eliza Kulbat ◽  
Aneta Łuczkiewicz ◽  
Aleksandra Sokołowska
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
Microscopic Analysis ◽  
Fecal Coliforms ◽  
Treated Wastewater ◽  
Chemical Parameters ◽  
Virus Particles ◽  
E Coli ◽  
The One ◽  
Physical And Chemical

The paper presents the results of research on the use of ultrafiltration, using membranes of 200 and 400 kDa separation, for disinfection of municipal treated wastewater. The research was conducted on a fractional technical scale using real municipal treated wastewater from two large wastewater treatment plants treating most of the wastewater over the one-million polycentric Gdańsk agglomeration (1.2 million inhabitants). UF 200 kDa and UF 400 kDa processes enabled further improvement of the physical and chemical parameters of treated wastewater. Total phosphorus (to below 0.2 mg/L–UF 200 kDa, 0.13 mg/L–UF 400 kDa) and turbid substances (to below 0.2 mg/L, both membranes) were removed in the highest degree. COD was reduced efficiently (to below 25.6 mgO2/L–UF 200 kDa, 26.8 mgO2/L–UF 400 kDa), while total nitrogen was removed to a small extent (to 7.12 mg/L–UF 200 kDa and 5.7 mg/L–UF 400 kDa. Based on the reduction of indicator bacteria; fecal coliforms including E. coli (FC) and fecal enterococci (FE) it was found that the ultrafiltration is an effective method of disinfection. Not much indicator bacterial were observed in the permeate after processes (UF 200 kDa; FC—5 CFU/L; FE—1 CFU/L and UF 400 kDa; FC—70 CFU/L; FE—10 CFU/L. However, microscopic analysis of prokaryotic cells and virus particles showed their presence after the application of both membrane types; TCN 3.0 × 102 cells/mL–UF 200 kDa, 5.0 × 103 cells/mL–UF 400 kDa, VP 1.0 × 105/mL. The presence of potentially pathogenic, highly infectious virus particles means that ultrafiltration cannot be considered a sufficient disinfection method for treated wastewater diverted for reuse or discharged from high load wastewater treatment plants to recreational areas. For full microbiological safety it would be advisable to apply an additional disinfection method (e.g., ozonation).

Removal improvement of bacteria (Escherichia coli and enterococci) in maturation ponds using baffles

2012 ◽  
Vol 65 (4) ◽  
pp. 589-595 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Ouali ◽  
H. Jupsin ◽  
J. L. Vasel ◽  
L. Marouani ◽  
A. Ghrabi
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
Treatment Plant ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Conventional Activated Sludge ◽  
In Series ◽  
Hydrodynamic Study ◽  
Rhodamine Wt ◽  
Engineering Intervention

Korba wastewater treatment plant is a conventional activated sludge followed by three maturation ponds (MP1, MP2, MP3) in series acting as a tertiary treatment. The first study of wastewater treatment plants showed that the effluent concentration of Escherichia coli and enterococci at the outlet of the (MP3) varies between 103 and 104CFU/100 ml. After the hydrodynamic study conducted by Rhodamine WT which showed short-circuiting in the MP1, two baffles were introduced in the first maturation pond (MP1) to improve the hydrodynamic and the sanitary performances. The second hydraulic study showed that the dispersion number ‘d’ was reduced from 1.45 to 0.43 by this engineering intervention and the Peclet number was raised from 0.69 to 2.32. The hydraulic retention time was increased by 14 h. Because of well-designed baffles, the removal efficiency of E. coli and enterococci was raised between 0.2 and 0.7 log units for the first maturation pond.

scholarly journals The role of wastewater treatment plants in surface water contamination by plastic pollutants

2018 ◽  
Vol 45 ◽  
pp. 00054 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bozena Mrowiec
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Surface Water ◽  
Water Contamination ◽  
Membrane Filtration ◽  
Municipal Wastewater ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
Point Sources ◽  
Municipal Sewage ◽  
Municipal Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Surface Water Contamination

The aim of this paper was to review the literature data regarding the physico-chemical characteristic of plastic pollutants discharged with municipal sewage, the practical possibility of removing microplastic particles from wastewater during different treatment steps in WWTPs and the problem of surface water contamination within them. Microplastics (the size range of 1 nm to < 5 mm), have been recognized as an emerging threat, as well as an ecotoxicological and ecological risk for water ecosystems. Municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are mentioned as the main point sources of microplastics in an aquatic environment. Microplastic particles can be effectively removed in the primary treatment zones via solids skimming and sludge settling processes. Different tertiary treatment processes such as: gravity sand filtration, discfilter, air flotation and membrane filtration provide substantial additional removal of microplastics, and the efficiency of wastewater treatment process can be at a removal level of 99.9%. Nevertheless, given the large volumes of effluent constantly discharged to receivers, even tertiary level WWTPs may constitute a considerable source of microplastics in the surface water.

scholarly journals A Preliminary Study: Antibiotic Resistance Patterns of Escherichia coli and Enterococcus Species from Wildlife Species Subjected to Supplementary Feeding on Various South African Farms

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 396 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michaela Sannettha van den Honert ◽  
Pieter Andries Gouws ◽  
Louwrens Christiaan Hoffman
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Supplementary Feeding ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Diffusion Method ◽  
Disk Diffusion Method ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Wildlife Species ◽  
Human Contact ◽  
Resistance Patterns

Studies have shown that antibiotic resistance among wild animals is becoming a public health concern, owing to increased contact and co-habitation with domestic animals that, in turn, results in increased human contact, indirectly and directly. This type of farming practice intensifies the likelihood of antibiotic resistant traits in microorganisms transferring between ecosystems which are linked via various transfer vectors, such as rivers and birds. This study aimed to determine whether the practice of wildlife supplementary feeding could have an influence on the antibiotic resistance of the bacteria harboured by the supplementary fed wildlife, and thus play a potential role in the dissemination of antibiotic resistance throughout nature. Escherichia coli and Enterococcus were isolated from the faeces of various wildlife species from seven different farms across South Africa. The Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method was used according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute 2018 guidelines. The E. coli (F: 57%; N = 75% susceptible) and Enterococcus (F: 67%; N = 78% susceptible) isolates from the supplementary fed (F) wildlife were in general, found to be more frequently resistant to the selection of antibiotics than from those which were not supplementary fed (N), particularly towards tetracycline (E. coli F: 56%; N: 71%/Enterococcus F: 53%; N: 89% susceptible), ampicillin (F: 82%; N = 95% susceptible) and sulphafurazole (F: 68%; N = 98% susceptible). Interestingly, high resistance towards streptomycin was observed in the bacteria from both the supplementary fed (7% susceptible) and non-supplementary fed (6% susceptible) wildlife isolates. No resistance was found towards chloramphenicol and ceftazidime.

Global implementation of two shared socioeconomic pathways for future sanitation and wastewater flows

2014 ◽  
Vol 71 (2) ◽  
pp. 227-233 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. J. T. M. van Puijenbroek ◽  
A. F. Bouwman ◽  
A. H. W. Beusen ◽  
P. L. Lucas
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Surface Water ◽  
Population Growth ◽  
Nutrient Loading ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Emission Model ◽  
Nitrogen And Phosphorus ◽  
Nutrient Emissions ◽  
Sewage Systems

Households are an important source of nutrient loading to surface water. Sewage systems without or with only primary wastewater treatment are major polluters of surface water. Future emission levels will depend on population growth, urbanisation, increases in income and investments in sanitation, sewage systems and wastewater treatment plants. This study presents the results for two possible shared socioeconomic pathways (SSPs). SSP1 is a scenario that includes improvement of wastewater treatment and SSP3 does not include such improvement, with fewer investments and a higher population growth. The main drivers for the nutrient emission model are population growth, income growth and urbanisation. Under the SSP1 scenario, 5.7 billion people will be connected to a sewage system and for SSP3 this is 5 billion. Nitrogen and phosphorus emissions increase by about 70% under both SSP scenarios, with the largest increase in SSP1. South Asia and Africa have the largest emission increases, in the developed countries decrease the nutrient emissions. The higher emission level poses a risk to ecosystem services.

scholarly journals ESKAPE Bacteria and Extended-Spectrum-β-Lactamase-Producing Escherichia coli Isolated from Wastewater and Process Water from German Poultry Slaughterhouses

2020 ◽  
Vol 86 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mykhailo Savin ◽  
Gabriele Bierbaum ◽  
Jens Andre Hammerl ◽  
Céline Heinemann ◽  
Marijo Parcina ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Resistance Genes ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
Process Water ◽  
Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Content Type ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Extended Spectrum ◽  
Clinically Relevant Bacteria

ABSTRACT The wastewater of livestock slaughterhouses is considered a source of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria with clinical relevance and may thus be important for their dissemination into the environment. To get an overview of their occurrence and characteristics, we investigated process water (n = 50) from delivery and unclean areas as well as wastewater (n = 32) from the in-house wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) of two German poultry slaughterhouses (slaughterhouses S1 and S2). The samples were screened for ESKAPE bacteria (Enterococcus spp., Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter spp.) and Escherichia coli. Their antimicrobial resistance phenotypes and the presence of extended-spectrum-β-lactamase (ESBL), carbapenemase, and mobilizable colistin resistance genes were determined. Selected ESKAPE bacteria were epidemiologically classified using different molecular typing techniques. At least one of the target species was detected in 87.5% (n = 28/32) of the wastewater samples and 86.0% (n = 43/50) of the process water samples. The vast majority of the recovered isolates (94.9%, n = 448/472) was represented by E. coli (39.4%), the A. calcoaceticus-A. baumannii (ACB) complex (32.4%), S. aureus (12.3%), and K. pneumoniae (10.8%), which were widely distributed in the delivery and unclean areas of the individual slaughterhouses, including their wastewater effluents. Enterobacter spp., Enterococcus spp., and P. aeruginosa were less abundant and made up 5.1% of the isolates. Phenotypic and genotypic analyses revealed that the recovered isolates exhibited diverse resistance phenotypes and β-lactamase genes. In conclusion, wastewater effluents from the investigated poultry slaughterhouses exhibited clinically relevant bacteria (E. coli, methicillin-resistant S. aureus, K. pneumoniae, and species of the ACB and Enterobacter cloacae complexes) that contribute to the dissemination of clinically relevant resistances (i.e., blaCTX-M or blaSHV and mcr-1) in the environment. IMPORTANCE Bacteria from livestock may be opportunistic pathogens and carriers of clinically relevant resistance genes, as many antimicrobials are used in both veterinary and human medicine. They may be released into the environment from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), which are influenced by wastewater from slaughterhouses, thereby endangering public health. Moreover, process water that accumulates during the slaughtering of poultry is an important reservoir for livestock-associated multidrug-resistant bacteria and may serve as a vector of transmission to occupationally exposed slaughterhouse employees. Mitigation solutions aimed at the reduction of the bacterial discharge into the production water circuit as well as interventions against their further transmission and dissemination need to be elaborated. Furthermore, the efficacy of in-house WWTPs needs to be questioned. Reliable data on the occurrence and diversity of clinically relevant bacteria within the slaughtering production chain and in the WWTP effluents in Germany will help to assess their impact on public and environmental health.

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