| Name: | Description: | Size: | Format: | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 709.52 KB | Adobe PDF |
Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Bacterial resistance is a naturally occurring process. However, bacterial antibiotic resistance
has emerged as a major public health problem in recent years. The accumulation of antibiotics in
the environment, including in wastewaters and drinking water, has contributed to the development
of antibiotic resistant bacteria and the dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Such
can be justified by the growing consumption of antibiotics and their inadequate elimination. The
conventional water treatments are ineffective in promoting the complete elimination of antibiotics
and bacteria, mainly in removing ARGs. Therefore, ARGs can be horizontally transferred to other
microorganisms within the aquatic environment, thus promoting the dissemination of antibiotic
resistance. In this review, we discuss the efficiency of conventional water treatment processes
in removing agents that can spread/stimulate the development of antibiotic resistance and the
promising strategies for water remediation, mainly those based on nanotechnology and microalgae.
Despite the potential of some of these approaches, the elimination of ARGs remains a challenge that
requires further research. Moreover, the development of new processes must avoid the release of
new contaminants for the environment, such as the chemicals resulting from nanomaterials synthesis,
and consider the utilization of green and eco-friendly alternatives such as biogenic nanomaterials
and microalgae-based technologies.
Description
Keywords
Antibiotic resistance Drinking water Water treatment Antibiotic resistance genes Nanotechnology Microalgae
Pedagogical Context
Citation
Duarte, Ana Catarina; Rodrigues, Sílvia; Afonso, Andrea; Nogueira, António; Coutinho, Paula (2022). Antibiotic resistance in the drinking water: old and new strategies to remove antibiotics, resistant bacteria, and resistance genes. Pharmaceuticals. EISSN 1424-8247. 15:4, p. 1-22