Understanding and reducing the spread of antibiotic resistance in anaerobic sludge digestion

The prevalence and spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) have been significantly accelerated by the widespread use of antibiotics in sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, and more. This poses threats to human and animal health, the environment and ecosystems. This project investigated how anaerobic digestion impacts the fate and removal of these bacteria in sludge from wastewater treatment plant (WWTP).

Researchers used lab-scale experiments to test the impact of different anaerobic conditions on ARGs and ARB. Findings included temperature-phased anaerobic digestion (TPAD) and free ammonia (FA) pretreatment significantly reduced ARG levels. TPAD alone reduced ARGs by over 92%, while the combination with FA pretreatment enhanced ARG removal by an additional 15%.

These findings feature effective strategies for mitigating the spread of antibiotic resistance through wastewater treatment, offering crucial benefits for public health and environmental protection.