# | Rank | Similarity | Title + Abs. | Year | PMID |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| 6559 | 0 | 1.0000 | Antibiotics and antibiotic resistant genes (ARGs) in groundwater: A global review on dissemination, sources, interactions, environmental and human health risks. The discovery and evolution of antibiotics for humans and animals are among the most significant milestones of the 20th century. However, antibiotics play a significant role in the induction and dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in groundwater that has recently become the primary environmental concern. They are administrated to humans and animals on a large scale and are persistent in the environment. Long term impacts of antibiotics in the ecological environment are not still clearly understood, and their occurrence and consequences have become an important research topic worldwide. The hotspot reservoirs of antibiotics and ARGs include medical facilities, livestock farming, aquaculture, landfills, on-site sanitation systems, sewage, and wastewater treatment plants. Our meta-analysis demonstrated that antibiotics, including ciprofloxacin, sulfamethoxazole, erythromycin, and tetracycline were found at high concentrations while sulfonamide and tetracycline ARGs were more prevalent in groundwater. Moreover, the highest reported concentrations of targeted antibiotics were used to calculate hazard quotient (HQ) and risk quotient (RQ) in global groundwater bodies to estimate environmental and human health risks, respectively. Due to limited available ecotoxicity data, RQ and HQ can only be calculated for a few antibiotics in groundwater. The risk assessment of antibiotics demonstrated that antibiotics with their current groundwater levels pose no human health risks, whereas only ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, flumequine, and sulfamethoxazole revealed moderate to low risks to aquatic species. The occurrence of ARGs and antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARBs) in groundwater is also not likely to pose human health risk but consumption of groundwater contaminated with ARGs and ARBs might contribute to the development of antibiotic resistance in humans. The present review also sheds light on the relationship between ARGs, antibiotics, microbial communities, and environmental factors in groundwater, and reported a significant correlation between them. It also addresses prospects for future outlooks into further areas of relevant research. | 2020 | 33032106 |
| 6511 | 1 | 0.9998 | Resistome Study in Aquatic Environments. Since the first discovery of antibiotics, introduction of new antibiotics has been coupled with the occurrence of antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Rapid dissemination of ARB and ARGs in the aquatic environments has become a global concern. ARB and ARGs have been already disseminated in the aquatic environments via various routes. Main hosts of most of ARGs were found to belong to Gammaproteobacteria class, including clinically important potential pathogens. Transmission of ARGs also occurs by horizontal gene transfer (HGT) mechanisms between bacterial strains in the aquatic environments, resulting in ubiquity of ARGs. Thus, a few of ARGs and MGEs (e.g., strA, sul1, int1) have been suggested as indicators for global comparability of contamination level in the aquatic environments. With ARB and ARGs contamination, the occurrence of critical pathogens has been globally issued due to their widespread in the aquatic environments. Thus, active surveillance systems have been launched worldwide. In this review, we described advancement of methodologies for ARGs detection, and occurrence of ARB and ARGs and their dissemination in the aquatic environments. Even though numerous studies have been conducted for ARB and ARGs, there is still no clear strategy to tackle antibiotic resistance (AR) in the aquatic environments. At least, for consistent surveillance, a strict framework should be established for further research in the aquatic environments. | 2023 | 36655280 |
| 7435 | 2 | 0.9998 | Insights into the impact of manure on the environmental antibiotic residues and resistance pool. The intensive use of antibiotics in the veterinary sector, linked to the application of manure-derived amendments in agriculture, translates into increased environmental levels of chemical residues, AR bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARG). The aim of this review was to evaluate the current evidence regarding the impact of animal farming and manure application on the antibiotic resistance pool in the environment. Several studies reported correlations between the prevalence of clinically relevant ARB and the amount and classes of antibiotics used in animal farming (high resistance rates being reported for medically important antibiotics such as penicillins, tetracyclines, sulfonamides and fluoroquinolones). However, the results are difficult to compare, due to the diversity of the used antimicrobials quantification techniques and to the different amounts and types of antibiotics, exhibiting various degradation times, given in animal feed in different countries. The soils fertilized with manure-derived products harbor a higher and chronic abundance of ARB, multiple ARG and an enriched associated mobilome, which is also sometimes seen in the crops grown on the amended soils. Different manure processing techniques have various efficiencies in the removal of antibiotic residues, ARB and ARGs, but there is only a small amount of data from commercial farms. The efficiency of sludge anaerobic digestion appears to be dependent on the microbial communities composition, the ARB/ARG and operating temperature (mesophilic vs. thermophilic conditions). Composting seems to reduce or eliminate most of antibiotics residues, enteric bacteria, ARB and different representative ARG in manure more rapidly and effectively than lagoon storage. Our review highlights that despite the body of research accumulated in the last years, there are still important knowledge gaps regarding the contribution of manure to the AMR emergence, accumulation, spread and risk of human exposure in countries with high clinical resistance rates. Land microbiome before and after manure application, efficiency of different manure treatment techniques in decreasing the AMR levels in the natural environments and along the food chain must be investigated in depth, covering different geographical regions and countries and using harmonized methodologies. The support of stakeholders is required for the development of specific best practices for prudent - cautious use of antibiotics on farm animals. The use of human reserve antibiotics in veterinary medicine and of unprescribed animal antimicrobials should be stopped and the use of antibiotics on farms must be limited. This integrated approach is needed to determine the optimal conditions for the removal of antibiotic residues, ARB and ARG, to formulate specific recommendations for livestock manure treatment, storage and handling procedures and to translate them into practical on-farm management decisions, to ultimately prevent exposure of human population. | 2022 | 36187968 |
| 6557 | 3 | 0.9998 | Antibiotics and antibiotic resistance in water environments. Antibiotic-resistant organisms enter into water environments from human and animal sources. These bacteria are able to spread their genes into water-indigenous microbes, which also contain resistance genes. On the contrary, many antibiotics from industrial origin circulate in water environments, potentially altering microbial ecosystems. Risk assessment protocols for antibiotics and resistant bacteria in water, based on better systems for antibiotics detection and antibiotic-resistance microbial source tracking, are starting to be discussed. Methods to reduce resistant bacterial load in wastewaters, and the amount of antimicrobial agents, in most cases originated in hospitals and farms, include optimization of disinfection procedures and management of wastewater and manure. A policy for preventing mixing human-originated and animal-originated bacteria with environmental organisms seems advisable. | 2008 | 18534838 |
| 6554 | 4 | 0.9998 | Environmental and Public Health Implications of Water Reuse: Antibiotics, Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria, and Antibiotic Resistance Genes. Water scarcity is a global problem, and is particularly acute in certain regions like Africa, the Middle East, as well as the western states of America. A breakdown on water usage revealed that 70% of freshwater supplies are used for agricultural irrigation. The use of reclaimed water as an alternative water source for agricultural irrigation would greatly alleviate the demand on freshwater sources. This paradigm shift is gaining momentum in several water scarce countries like Saudi Arabia. However, microbial problems associated with reclaimed water may hinder the use of reclaimed water for agricultural irrigation. Of particular concern is that the occurrence of antibiotic residues in the reclaimed water can select for antibiotic resistance genes among the microbial community. Antibiotic resistance genes can be associated with mobile genetic elements, which in turn allow a promiscuous transfer of resistance traits from one bacterium to another. Together with the pathogens that are present in the reclaimed water, antibiotic resistant bacteria can potentially exchange mobile genetic elements to create the "perfect microbial storm". Given the significance of this issue, a deeper understanding of the occurrence of antibiotics in reclaimed water, and their potential influence on the selection of resistant microorganisms would be essential. In this review paper, we collated literature over the past two decades to determine the occurrence of antibiotics in municipal wastewater and livestock manure. We then discuss how these antibiotic resistant bacteria may impose a potential microbial risk to the environment and public health, and the knowledge gaps that would have to be addressed in future studies. Overall, the collation of the literature in wastewater treatment and agriculture serves to frame and identify potential concerns with respect to antibiotics, antibiotic resistant bacteria, and antibiotic resistance genes in reclaimed water. | 2013 | 27029309 |
| 6510 | 5 | 0.9998 | Antibiotic Resistance in Minimally Human-Impacted Environments. Antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) have become contaminants of concern in environmental systems. Studies investigating environmental ARB have primarily focused on environments that are greatly impacted by anthropogenic activity. Background concentrations of ARB in natural environments is not well understood. This review summarizes the current literature on the monitoring of ARB and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in environments less impacted by human activity. Both ARB and ARGs have been detected on the Antarctic continent, on isolated glaciers, and in remote alpine environments. The methods for detecting and quantifying ARB and ARGs from the environment are not standardized and warrant optimization. Further research should be focused on the detection and quantification of ARB and ARGs along human gradients to better characterize the factors leading to their dissemination in remote environments. | 2020 | 32498349 |
| 6547 | 6 | 0.9998 | An overview on the prevalence and potential impact of antimicrobials and antimicrobial resistance in the aquatic environment of India. India at present is one of the leading countries in antimicrobial drug production and use, leading to increasing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and public health problems. Attention has mainly been focused on the human and food animals' contribution to AMR neglecting the potential contribution of the perceptibly degraded aquatic environment in India. The paper reviews the available published literature in India on the prevalence of antimicrobial residues and their dissemination pathways in wastewater of pharmaceutical industries, sewage treatment plants, hospitals, riverine, community pond water, and groundwater. The prevalence of antimicrobial residue concentration, pathogenic and non-pathogenic bacteria antimicrobial resistant bacteria (ARB), their drug resistance levels, and their specific antimicrobial resistant genes (ARGs) occurring in various water matrices of India have been comprehensively depicted from existing literature. The concentration of some widely used antimicrobials recorded from the sewage treatment plants and hospital wastewater and rivers in India has been compared with other countries. The ecotoxicological risk posed by these antimicrobials in the various water matrices in India indicated high hazard quotient (HQ) values for pharmaceutical effluents, hospital effluents, and river water. The degraded aquatic environment exhibited the selection of a wide array of co-existent resistant genes for antibiotics and metals. The review revealed improper use of antibiotics and inadequate wastewater treatment as major drivers of AMR contaminating water bodies in India and suggestion for containing the challenges posed by AMR in India has been proposed. | 2023 | 37530878 |
| 3170 | 7 | 0.9998 | A review of antibiotic resistance genes in major river basins in China: Distribution, drivers, and risk. Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) have complex transmission pathways and are prone to form multi-drug-resistant bacteria, threatening the ecological environment and human health. This paper elucidates the distribution and dissemination of ARGs across seven major river basins in China through a comprehensive analysis of relevant literature from the past decade. It presents a comprehensive catalog of pertinent risk assessment methodologies and potential management strategies aimed at mitigating the threat posed by antibiotic resistance due to ARGs. The analysis results showed that the pollution abundance of ARGs showed a decreasing trend from east to west, with the estuarine environment and economically developed areas standing out, with sulfonamides and tetracyclines, among others, as the main types of pollution. Human activities are closely related to the occurrence and spread of ARGs. Mobile genetic factors and microbial communities act as the main drivers to promote the proliferation of ARGs among different microorganisms through horizontal transfer and other pathways. The exhibition of ARGs assessment methods was comparatively analyzed, while Chinese river basins are at medium-high risk and need to be managed rationally. This review can provide a reference for the distribution, spread and management of ARGs in Chinese river basin. | 2025 | 40010590 |
| 7430 | 8 | 0.9998 | Sources of Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria (ARB) and Antibiotic Resistance Genes (ARGs) in the Soil: A Review of the Spreading Mechanism and Human Health Risks. Soil is an essential part of our ecosystem and plays a crucial role as a nutrient source, provides habitat for plants and other organisms. Overuse of antibiotics has accelerated the development and dissemination of antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). ARB and ARGs are recognized as emerging environmental contaminants causing soil pollution and serious risks to public health. ARB and ARGs are discharged into soils through several pathways. Application of manure in agriculture is one of the primary sources of ARB and ARGs dissemination in the soil. Different sources of contamination by ARB and ARGs were reviewed and analyzed as well as dissemination mechanisms in the soil. The effects of ARB and ARGs on soil bacterial community were evaluated. Furthermore, the impact of different sources of manure on soil microbial diversity as well as the effect of antibiotics on the development of ARB and ARGs in soils was analyzed. Human health risk assessments associated with the spreading of ARB and ARGs in soils were investigated. Finally, recommendations and mitigation strategies were proposed. | 2021 | 33948742 |
| 7391 | 9 | 0.9998 | Antibiotic resistance genes in China: occurrence, risk, and correlation among different parameters. Antibiotic resistance has become a widely concerned issue due to the huge risk on the ecological environment and human health. China has the highest production and consumption of antibiotics than other countries. Thus, antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) have been detected in various environmental settings (e.g., surface water, wastewater, sediment) in China. The occurrence of ARGs in these matrixes was summarized and discussed in this review. Sulfonamide resistance genes and tetracycline resistance genes were the most frequently detected ARGs in China. According to the abundance of these two classes of ARGs in the natural environment, sulfonamide resistance genes seem to be more stable than tetracycline resistance genes. Furthermore, the relationships between ARGs and antibiotics, antibiotic resistance bacteria (ARB), heavy metals, and environmental parameters (e.g., pH, organics) were also investigated. Specifically, relative abundance of total ARGs was found to correlate well with concentration of total antibiotics in aqueous phase but not in the solid phase (soil, sediment, sludge, and manure). As for relationship between ARGs and ARB, metals, and environmental parameters in different media, due to complex and variable environment, some exhibit positive correlation, some negative, while others no correlation at all. Three potential risks are discussed in the text: transmission to human, synergistic effect of different ARGs, and variability of ARGs. However, due to the complexity of the environment, more work is needed to establish a quantitative approach of ARG risk assessment, which can provide a theoretical support for the management of antibiotics and the protection of human health. | 2018 | 29948704 |
| 6558 | 10 | 0.9998 | Does Irrigation with Treated and Untreated Wastewater Increase Antimicrobial Resistance in Soil and Water: A Systematic Review. Population growth and water scarcity necessitate alternative agriculture practices, such as reusing wastewater for irrigation. Domestic wastewater has been used for irrigation for centuries in many historically low-income and arid countries and is becoming more widely used by high-income countries to augment water resources in an increasingly dry climate. Wastewater treatment processes are not fully effective in removing all contaminants, such as antimicrobial resistant bacteria (ARB) and antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs). Literature reviews on the impact of wastewater irrigation on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the environment have been inconclusive and mostly focused on treated wastewater. We conducted the first systematic review to assess the impact of irrigation with both treated or untreated domestic wastewater on ARB and ARGs in soil and adjacent water bodies. We screened titles/abstracts of 3002 articles, out of which 41 were screened in full text and 26 were included in this review. Of these, thirteen investigated irrigation with untreated wastewater, and nine found a positive association with ARB/ARGs in soil. Out of thirteen studies focused on treated wastewater, six found a positive association with ARB/ARGs while six found mixed/negative associations. Our findings demonstrate that irrigation with untreated wastewater increases AMR in soil and call for precautionary action by field workers, their families, and consumers when untreated wastewater is used to irrigate crops. The effect of irrigation with treated wastewater was more variable among the studies included in our review, highlighting the need to better understand to what extent AMR is disseminated through this practice. Future research should assess factors that modify the effect of wastewater irrigation on AMR in soil, such as the degree and type of wastewater treatment, and the duration and intensity of irrigation, to inform guidelines on the reuse of wastewater for irrigation. | 2021 | 34769568 |
| 3175 | 11 | 0.9998 | A multi-pronged approach to assessing antimicrobial resistance risks in coastal waters and aquaculture systems. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global challenge that has impacted aquaculture and surrounding marine environments. In this study, a year-long monitoring program was implemented to evaluate AMR in two different aquaculture settings (i.e., open cage farming, recirculating aquaculture system (RAS)) and surrounding marine environment within a tropical coastal region. The objectives of this study are to (i) investigate the prevalence and co-occurrence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB), antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), antibiotics (AB) and various associated chemical compounds at these study sites; (ii) explore the contributing factors to development and propagation of AMR in the coastal environment; and (iii) assess the AMR risks from different perspectives based on the three AMR determinants (i.e., ARB, ARGs and AB). Key findings revealed a distinct pattern of AMR across the different aquaculture settings, notably a higher prevalence of antibiotic-resistant Vibrio at RAS outfalls, suggesting a potential accumulation of microorganisms within the treatment system. Despite the relative uniform distribution of ARGs across marine sites, specific genes such as qepA, bla(CTX)(-)(M) and bacA, were found to be abundant in fish samples, especially from the RAS. Variations in chemical contaminant prevalence across sites highlighted possible anthropogenic impacts. Moreover, environmental and seasonal variations were found to significantly influence the distribution of ARGs and chemical compounds in the coastal waters. Hierarchical cluster analysis that was based on ARGs, chemical compounds and environmental data, categorized the sites into three distinct clusters which reflected strong association with location, seasonality and aquaculture activities. The observed weak correlations between ARGs and chemical compounds imply that low environmental concentrations may be insufficient for resistance selection. A comprehensive risk assessment using methodologies such as the multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) index, comparative AMR risk index (CAMRI) and Risk quotient (RQ) underscored the complexity of AMR risks. This research significantly contributes to the understanding of AMR dynamics in natural aquatic systems and provides valuable insights for managing and mitigating AMR risks in coastal environments. | 2024 | 39241380 |
| 7431 | 12 | 0.9998 | Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria in Municipal Wastes: Is There Reason for Concern? Recently, there has been increased concern about the presence of antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistant genes (ARG), in treated domestic wastewaters, animal manures and municipal biosolids. The concern is whether these additional sources of ARB contribute to antibiotic resistance levels in the environment, that is, "environmental antibiotic resistance." ARB and ARG occur naturally in soil and water, and it remains unclear whether the introduction of ARB in liquid and solid municipal and animal wastes via land application have any significant impact on the background levels of antibiotic resistance in the environment, and whether they affect human exposure to ARB. In this current review, we examine and re-evaluate the incidence of ARB and ARG resulting from land application activities, and offer a new perspective on the threat of antibiotic resistance to public health via exposure from nonclinical environmental sources. Based on inputs of ARBs and ARGs from land application, their fate in soil due to soil microbial ecology principles, and background indigenous levels of ARBs and ARGs already present in soil, we conclude that while antibiotic resistance levels in soil are increased temporally by land application of wastes, their persistence is not guaranteed and is in fact variable, and often contradictory based on application site. Furthermore, the application of wastes may not produce the most direct impact of ARGs and ARB on public health. Further investigation is still warranted in agriculture and public health, including continued scrutiny of antibiotic use in both sectors. | 2018 | 29505255 |
| 6402 | 13 | 0.9998 | Livestock and poultry breeding farms as a fixed and underestimated source of antibiotic resistance genes. The excessive use of antibiotics, disinfectants, and drugs in livestock and poultry breeding has resulted in a rise in the presence of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and ARGs have been widely found in animal feces, farm wastewater, and farm air. ARGs can not only spread across media through adsorption and migration, but also transfer resistance across bacterial genera through horizontal gene transfer. Livestock breeding has become a fixed and unavoidable source of ARGs in the environment. Existing technologies for controlling ARGs, such as composting, disinfection, and sewage treatment, are not efficient in removing ARB and ARGs from waste. Furthermore, the remaining ARGs still possess a strong capacity for dissemination. At present, antibiotics used in animal husbandry are difficult to replace in a short period of time. The growth and potential risks of resistance genes in livestock and poultry breeding sources in the receiving environment are not yet clear. In this paper, we summarize the current situation of ARGs in the livestock and poultry breeding environment. We also explain the key environmental processes, main influencing factors, and corresponding ecological risks associated with ARGs in this environment. The advantages and disadvantages of current technologies for the removal of ARGs are primarily discussed. There is a particular emphasis on clarifying the spatiotemporal evolution patterns and environmental process mechanisms of ARGs, as well as highlighting the importance and urgency of developing efficient pollution control technologies. | 2024 | 39052112 |
| 7377 | 14 | 0.9998 | Impact of treated wastewater irrigation on antibiotic resistance in agricultural soils. Antibiotic resistance (AR) is a global phenomenon with severe epidemiological ramifications. Anthropogenically impacted natural aquatic and terrestrial environments can serve as reservoirs of antibiotic resistance genes (ARG), which can be horizontally transferred to human-associated bacteria through water and food webs, and thus contribute to AR proliferation. Treated-wastewater (TWW) irrigation is becoming increasingly prevalent in arid regions of the world, due to growing demand and decline in freshwater supplies. The release of residual antibiotic compounds, AR bacteria, and ARGs from wastewater effluent may result in proliferation of AR in irrigated soil microcosms. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of TWW-irrigation on soil AR bacterial and ARG reservoirs. Tetracycline, erythromycin, sulfonamide, and ciprofloxacin resistance in soil was assessed using standard culture-based isolation methods and culture-independent molecular analysis using quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). High levels of bacterial antibiotic resistance were detected in both freshwater- and TWW-irrigated soils. Nonetheless, in most of the soils analyzed, AR bacteria and ARG levels in TWW-irrigated soils were on the whole identical (or sometimes even lower) than in the freshwater-irrigated soils, indicating that the high number of resistant bacteria that enter the soils from the TWW are not able to compete or survive in the soil environment and that they do not significantly contribute ARG to soil bacteria. This strongly suggests that the impact of the TWW-associated bacteria on the soil microbiome is on the whole negligible, and that the high levels of AR bacteria and ARGs in both the freshwater- and the TWW-irrigated soils are indicative of native AR associated with the natural soil microbiome. | 2012 | 22494147 |
| 6555 | 15 | 0.9998 | Bacteriophages as antibiotic resistance genes carriers in agro-food systems. Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) are a global health concern. Antibiotic resistance occurs naturally, but misuse of antibiotics in humans and animals is accelerating the process of antibiotic resistance emergency, which has been aggravated by exposure to molecules of antibiotics present in clinical and agricultural settings and the engagement of many countries in water reuse especially in Middle East and North Africa region. Bacteriophages have the potential to be significant actors in ARGs transmission through the transduction process. These viruses have been detected along with ARGs in non impacted habitats and in anthropogenic impacted environments like wastewater, reclaimed water and manure amended soil as well as minimally processed food and ready to eat vegetables. The ubiquity of bacteriophages and their persistence in the environment raises concern about their involvement in ARGs transmission among different biomes and the generation of pathogenic-resistant bacteria that pose a great threat to human health. The aim of this review is to give an overview of the potential role of bacteriophages in the dissemination and the transfer of ARGs to pathogens in food production and processing and the consequent contribution to antibiotic resistance transmission through faecal oral route carrying ARGs to our dishes. | 2021 | 32916015 |
| 7426 | 16 | 0.9998 | Detection and fate of antibiotic resistant bacteria in wastewater treatment plants: a review. Antibiotics are among the most successful group of pharmaceuticals used for human and veterinary therapy. However, large amounts of antibiotics are released into municipal wastewater due to incomplete metabolism in humans or due to disposal of unused antibiotics, which finally find their ways into different natural environmental compartments. The emergence and rapid spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) has led to an increasing concern about the potential environmental and public health risks. ARB and antibiotic resistant genes (ARGs) have been detected extensively in wastewater samples. Available data show significantly higher proportion of antibiotic resistant bacteria contained in raw and treated wastewater relative to surface water. According to these studies, the conditions in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are favourable for the proliferation of ARB. Moreover, another concern with regards to the presence of ARB and ARGs is their effective removal from sewage. This review gives an overview of the available data on the occurrence of ARB and ARGs and their fate in WWTPs, on the biological methods dealing with the detection of bacterial populations and their resistance genes, and highlights areas in need for further research studies. | 2013 | 23414720 |
| 6474 | 17 | 0.9998 | Impact of treated wastewater irrigation on antibiotic resistance in the soil microbiome. The reuse of treated wastewater (TWW) for irrigation is a practical solution for overcoming water scarcity, especially in arid and semiarid regions of the world. However, there are several potential environmental and health-related risks associated with this practice. One such risk stems from the fact that TWW irrigation may increase antibiotic resistance (AR) levels in soil bacteria, potentially contributing to the global propagation of clinical AR. Wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents have been recognized as significant environmental AR reservoirs due to selective pressure generated by antibiotics and other compounds that are frequently detected in effluents. This review summarizes a myriad of recent studies that have assessed the impact of anthropogenic practices on AR in environmental bacterial communities, with specific emphasis on elucidating the potential effects of TWW irrigation on AR in the soil microbiome. Based on the current state of the art, we conclude that contradictory to freshwater environments where WWTP effluent influx tends to expand antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic-resistant genes levels, TWW irrigation does not seem to impact AR levels in the soil microbiome. Although this conclusion is a cause for cautious optimism regarding the future implementation of TWW irrigation, we conclude that further studies aimed at assessing the scope of horizontal gene transfer between effluent-associated ARB and soil bacteria need to be further conducted before ruling out the possible contribution of TWW irrigation to antibiotic-resistant reservoirs in irrigated soils. | 2013 | 23378260 |
| 7361 | 18 | 0.9998 | Spatial and temporal distribution of endotoxins, antibiotic resistance genes and mobile genetic elements in the air of a dairy farm in Germany. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a serious issue that is continuously growing and spreading, leading to a dwindling number of effective treatments for infections that were easily treatable with antibiotics in the past. Animal farms are a major hotspot for AMR, where antimicrobials are often overused, misused, and abused, in addition to overcrowding of animals. In this study, we investigated the risk of AMR transmission from a farm to nearby residential areas by examining the overall occurrence of endotoxins, antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) in the air of a cattle farm. We assessed various factors, including the season and year, day and nighttime, and different locations within the farm building and its vicinity. The most abundant ARGs detected were tetW, aadA1, and sul2, genes that encode for resistances towards antibiotics commonly used in veterinary medicine. While there was a clear concentration gradient for endotoxin from the middle of the farm building to the outside areas, the abundance of ARGs and MGEs was relatively uniform among all locations within the farm and its vicinity. This suggests that endotoxins preferentially accumulated in the coarse particle fraction, which deposited quickly, as opposed to the ARGs and MGEs, which might concentrate in the fine particle fraction and remain longer in the aerosol phase. The occurrence of the same genes found in the air samples and in the manure indicated that ARGs and MGEs in the air mostly originated from the cows, continuously being released from the manure to the air. Although our atmospheric dispersion model indicated a relatively low risk for nearby residential areas, farm workers might be at greater risk of getting infected with resistant bacteria and experiencing overall respiratory tract issues due to continuous exposure to elevated concentrations of endotoxins, ARGs and MGEs in the air of the farm. | 2023 | 37625772 |
| 6553 | 19 | 0.9998 | Antibiotic Resistance in Recreational Waters: State of the Science. Ambient recreational waters can act as both recipients and natural reservoirs for antimicrobial resistant (AMR) bacteria and antimicrobial resistant genes (ARGs), where they may persist and replicate. Contact with AMR bacteria and ARGs potentially puts recreators at risk, which can thus decrease their ability to fight infections. A variety of point and nonpoint sources, including contaminated wastewater effluents, runoff from animal feeding operations, and sewer overflow events, can contribute to environmental loading of AMR bacteria and ARGs. The overall goal of this article is to provide the state of the science related to recreational exposure and AMR, which has been an area of increasing interest. Specific objectives of the review include (1) a description of potential sources of antibiotics, AMR bacteria, and ARGs in recreational waters, as documented in the available literature; (2) a discussion of what is known about human recreational exposures to AMR bacteria and ARGs, using findings from health studies and exposure assessments; and (3) identification of knowledge gaps and future research needs. To better understand the dynamics related to AMR and associated recreational water risks, future research should focus on source contribution, fate and transport-across treatment and in the environment; human health risk assessment; and standardized methods. | 2020 | 33142796 |