Antibiotics and Antibiotic Resistance in Water and Wastewater Resources: A review

Abstract

Antibiotics are extensively used for human and veterinary treatments as well as agricultural growth improvements. In spite of such positive effects, in the present century the antibiotic resistance has become one of the most important environmental challenges. It has involved all environmental sections and putting pressure on microbial groups led to antibiotic resistance followed by ecological changes in environmental sources. Antibiotic resistance in the environment can be transferred from pathogenic bacteria to non-pathogenic and native bacteria. These agents persist in raw inflow and final effluent of wastewater treatment plants and infected the soil and water compartments. Water treatment can not completely eliminate bacteria and their resistance genes. These agents therefore enter the water distribution systems and create health risks for final consumers. This paper evaluated the antibiotic resistance in environmental resources and main factors in antibiotic resistance dissemination. The paper emphasizes on the role of authorities and organizations as well as researchers in the basic pathology of antibiotic resistance in environmental sources and its relationship with clinical places and use of proper control methods.

Keywords

• antibiotics
• antibiotic resistance
• water
• wastewater
• sludge