The effect of wastewater treatment on antibiotic resistance in Escherichia coli and Enterococcus sp.
The effects of wastewater treatment on the proportion of Escherichia coli and Enterococcus sp. resistant to specific antibiotics were investigated at two facilities in Davis County, Utah, one of which received hospital waste. Samples were taken from the influent, effluent before disinfection, and secondary anaerobic sludge digester effluent. There was very little difference in antibiotic resistance among E. coli in the inflow waters of the plants but the plant receiving hospital waste had a significantly higher proportion of antibiotic resistant Enterococcus. The effect of wastewater treatment on antibiotic resistance was more pronounced on enterococci than E. coli. Although some increases in antibiotic resistance were observed, the general trend seemed to be a decrease in resistance, especially in the proportion of multidrug resistant Enterococcus sp.
Department of Microbiology, Weber State University, Ogden, Utah 84408-2506, USA.
Sarah
S
Garcia
Bradley
B
Wade
Carrie
C
Bauer
Carri
C
Craig
Karen
K
Nakaoka
William
W
Lorowitz
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D016983:Enterococcus / Q000187:drug effects*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects*; D012722:Sewage / Q000382:microbiology*; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D012722:Sewage