AMR in wastewater
Developing our understanding the risk of municipal wastewater as a pathway to distribution of AMR in the environment
Project title
A One Health Approach to Antimicrobial Resistance: Persistence of Antibiotics in Wastewater, Recycled Water and Receiving Environments
Challenge
Wastewater is a pathway for the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Municipal wastewater contains trace concentrations of antimicrobial drugs and microorganisms excreted from humans which may show antimicrobial resistance (AMR), however wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are not designed to remove antimicrobial drugs or AMR organisms or genes so removal of these chemicals and microorganisms can be incomplete. These microorganisms are also exposed to low concentrations of antimicrobial drugs and AMR organisms in wastewater, and they can develop and spread AMR and AMR genes as treated wastewater is usually discharged into a natural water body or reused, releasing trace, residual concentrations of antimicrobial drugs and AMR organisms and genes into the environment.
To understand the risk of municipal wastewater as a pathway to distribution of AMR in the environment, this project will investigate the fate of antimicrobial drugs and AMR organisms and genes in wastewater systems and receiving environments.
