Antibiotics and Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Environmental Waters and Agriculture

Dear Colleagues,

In recent decades, the emergence of antibiotic resistance (AR) has led to global concern around a worrying trend regarding the decrease of the effectivity of the antibiotics against some multidrug-resistant pathogens. Although AR is an ancient and naturally occurring phenomenon, the intensification of anthropogenic activities has increased the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Moreover, there is no doubt that the natural environment is a huge reservoir of antibiotic-resistant genes (ARGs), and a One Health approach is needed to face this problem.

Water represents the most important link between different environmental compartments. Up to 90% of pharmaceuticals and antibiotics consumed by humans end up in feces and urine, which finally go to wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). As WWTP are not able to eliminate most of these compounds, treated wastewater can disseminate antibiotics and ARGs to the receiving rivers. Freshwaters are the main source of drinking water for the population. However, there is still very little information about AR in source waters, drinking water treatment plants, and in drinking water distribution systems, and if their occurrence has an impact on human health.

In addition, pharmaceuticals and antibiotics are also widely used in veterinary medicine. In this case, these compounds end up to livestock wastes, which are commonly applied in the fields as biofertilizers. Furthermore, in areas affected by water scarcity, wastewater reuse is becoming a common practice in agriculture. Both practices represent another important route of dissemination of antibiotics and ARGs into the environment (i.e., soils and groundwater) and may also contribute to the introduction of these emerging pollutants to the food chain.  

Therefore, in an effort to better understand the rising levels of AR, the aim of this Special Issue is to gather information about the role of aquatic and agricultural ecosystems in the dissemination of antibiotics and ARGs.

Dr. Elisabet Marti
Dr. Meritxell Gros
Guest Editors

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