Control of antibiotic resistance by advanced treatment: Recent advances, in a nutshell

Abstract

Safe re-use of treated wastewater effluents are globally progressing. Legislations and regulations are being updated concurrently. There are no details or technical procedures yet on how to safeguard human and environmental health in the case of a mixture of pathogens, in particular, antibiotic resistant bacteria and gene developing resistance. Treatment methods aim to control ARGs, while it is hypothesized that wastewater treatment plant effluents may serve as a source of antibiotic resistance genes and mobile elements carrying resistance for downstream aquatic environments. The level of antibiotic resistant bacteria inactivation, antibiotic resistance gene reduction, and bacterial regrowth are directly related to the treatment process, and the interaction with the water matrix and bacteria cell structure. A variety of treatment methods, mechanisms, and their combinations are used and hypothesized to control the spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance gene. In this chapter, we provide a brief summary of the latest research and advances in the field of antibiotic resistance control. In addition, advanced treatment alternatives will be provided. © 2022 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston. All rights reserved.