Antibiotic Resistance in Heterotrophic Bacteria from Two Municipal Wastewater Plant Effluents in Kentucky
Department
Environmental Health Science
Recommended Citation
Front, Arkadiusz and Marion, Jason W., "Antibiotic Resistance in Heterotrophic Bacteria from Two Municipal Wastewater Plant Effluents in Kentucky" (2018). University Presentation Showcase Event. 22.
https://encompass.eku.edu/swps/2018/faculty/22
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Antibiotic resistance (AR) is a growing public health problem worldwide. Societal use of antibiotics has contributed to AR development, and wastewater has been implicated as a potential hotspot for AR development. To better understand AR in effluent, a mixed industrial-domestic wastewater plant (Plant A) and all-domestic plant (Plant B) were investigated for possible resistance using heterotrophic plate count (HPC) bacteria following UV treatment of effluent.
METHODS: During Summer 2017, 25 bulk wastewater effluent samples were collected from two Central Kentucky wastewater plants (n = 50). Antibiotic-spiked samples were made from each bulk sample. Negative controls and spiked samples were enumerated for HPC bacteria using Idexx HPC tests.
RESULTS: Plants A and B treat on average 3.5 and 0.79 million gallons per day, respectively. Effluents A and B had median HPC densities of 1,354 and 536 MPN/100 ML, respectively. Median densities for tetracycline- and imipinem-resistant HPC bacteria were below detection in both plants. Median vancomycin-resistant densities were 187 and 83 HPC per 100 mL in A and B, respectively. Vancomycin resistance was observed in all samples. Tetracycline and imipinem resistance were observed in 16-36% of all samples, respectively; however there was no difference in the detection frequency between plant A and B (p > 0.05). Evidence of a UV-treatment effect on resistance frequency was also observed via regression analysis.
CONCLUSIONS: The antibiotic spiked Idexx HPC approach used here is novel; however such approach needs validation. More studies are needed for understanding AR development in viable AR bacteria in wastewater effluent.
Presentation format
Poster
Antibiotic Resistance in Heterotrophic Bacteria from Two Municipal Wastewater Plant Effluents in Kentucky
INTRODUCTION: Antibiotic resistance (AR) is a growing public health problem worldwide. Societal use of antibiotics has contributed to AR development, and wastewater has been implicated as a potential hotspot for AR development. To better understand AR in effluent, a mixed industrial-domestic wastewater plant (Plant A) and all-domestic plant (Plant B) were investigated for possible resistance using heterotrophic plate count (HPC) bacteria following UV treatment of effluent.
METHODS: During Summer 2017, 25 bulk wastewater effluent samples were collected from two Central Kentucky wastewater plants (n = 50). Antibiotic-spiked samples were made from each bulk sample. Negative controls and spiked samples were enumerated for HPC bacteria using Idexx HPC tests.
RESULTS: Plants A and B treat on average 3.5 and 0.79 million gallons per day, respectively. Effluents A and B had median HPC densities of 1,354 and 536 MPN/100 ML, respectively. Median densities for tetracycline- and imipinem-resistant HPC bacteria were below detection in both plants. Median vancomycin-resistant densities were 187 and 83 HPC per 100 mL in A and B, respectively. Vancomycin resistance was observed in all samples. Tetracycline and imipinem resistance were observed in 16-36% of all samples, respectively; however there was no difference in the detection frequency between plant A and B (p > 0.05). Evidence of a UV-treatment effect on resistance frequency was also observed via regression analysis.
CONCLUSIONS: The antibiotic spiked Idexx HPC approach used here is novel; however such approach needs validation. More studies are needed for understanding AR development in viable AR bacteria in wastewater effluent.
