title: Balancing water sustainability and public health goals in the face of growing concerns about antibiotic resistance.
abstract: Global initiatives are underway to advance the sustainability of urban water infrastructure through measures such as water reuse. However, there are growing concerns that wastewater effluents are enriched in antibiotics, antibiotic resistant bacteria, and antibiotic resistance genes, and thus could serve as a contributing factor to growing rates of antibiotic resistance in human infections. Evidence for the role of the water environment as a source and pathway for the spread of antimicrobial resistance is examined and key knowledge gaps are identified with respect to implications for sustainable water systems. Efforts on the part of engineers along with investment in research in epidemiology, risk assessment, water treatment and water delivery could advance current and future sustainable water strategies and help avoid unintended consequences.
authors.affiliation: Via Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University , Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States.
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pruden
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001419:Bacteria; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D006040:Goals; D011634:Public Health; D062065:Wastewater / Q000382:microbiology; D014871:Water Microbiology; D014873:Water Pollutants; D014881:Water Supply
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D062065:Wastewater; D014873:Water Pollutants