Pathogenic, drug-resistant bacteria found in wastewater treatment plants

Date:: March 21, 2019
Source:: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press
Summary:: Infections caused by drug-resistant bacteria are a global public health threat causing serious illness and even death. In a new study, researchers conducted a survey of 20 municipal wastewater plants in England, and isolated drug-resistant Enterococcus faecium from all sites in both untreated and treated wastewater plants except three, which use ultraviolet light disinfection. A genomic comparison of E. faecium isolates from wastewater and bloodstream isolates of infected patients revealed two major lineages.
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Infections caused by drug-resistant bacteria are a global public health threat causing serious illness and even death. Strains of the bacteriumEnterococcus faecium(E. faecium) are generally harmless in healthy people, but can be pathogenic in immunocompromised or severely ill patients.E. faeciumstrains from hospital environments have acquired resistance to commonly used antibiotics, including those used to treat serious infections, making these infections especially challenging to treat.

In a study published today inGenome Research, researchers conducted a survey of 20 municipal wastewater plants in England, and isolated drug-resistantE. faeciumfrom all sites in both untreated and treated wastewater plants except three, which use ultraviolet light disinfection. Importantly, drug-resistantE. faeciumcounts were significantly higher in untreated wastewater from plants that were direct recipients of hospital sewage. A genomic comparison ofE. faeciumisolates from wastewater and bloodstream isolates of infected patients revealed two major lineages, with ampicillin-resistant bacteria in clade A1 and A2 and vancomycin-resistant bacteria exclusive to clade A1. Further genetic analysis revealed the presence of shared antibiotic, metal, and biocide resistance genes in clade A1 isolates from bloodstream, hospital sewage, and municipal wastewater.

This study demonstrates close genetic relatedness of drug-resistantE. faeciumisolates released into the environment with those that cause serious human disease. Further research is needed to determine the public health implications of exposure to healthcare- and waste-associated pathogens. Terminal ultraviolet light disinfection of wastewater is one solution that would reduce environmental contamination with drug-resistant bacteria.

Researchers from the University of Cambridge, Public Health England, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, University of Oslo, and Mahidol University contributed to this work. The study was funded by grants from the Health Innovation Challenge Fund, Wellcome Trust Research Training Fellowship, Wellcome Trust Sir Henry Postdoctoral Fellowship, and European Research Council.

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Journal Reference:

Theodore Gouliouris, Kathy E. Raven, Danesh Moradigaravand, Catherine Ludden, Francesc Coll, Beth Blane, Plamena Naydenova, Carolyne Horner, Nicholas M. Brown, Jukka Corander, Direk Limmathurotsakul, Julian Parkhill, Sharon J. Peacock.Detection of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium hospital-adapted lineages in municipal wastewater treatment plants indicates widespread distribution and release into the environment.Genome Research, 2019; DOI:10.1101/gr.232629.119

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Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press. "Pathogenic, drug-resistant bacteria found in wastewater treatment plants." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 21 March 2019. /releases/2019/03/190321130442.htm>.

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press. (2019, March 21). Pathogenic, drug-resistant bacteria found in wastewater treatment plants.ScienceDaily. Retrieved October 24, 2023 from www.koonmotors.com/releases/2019/03/190321130442.htm

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press. "Pathogenic, drug-resistant bacteria found in wastewater treatment plants." ScienceDaily. www.koonmotors.com/releases/2019/03/190321130442.htm (accessed October 24, 2023).

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