Northern Kentucky University
Prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in freshwater ecosystems affected by wastewater effluent
Grade Level at Time of Presentation
Junior
Major
Biological Sciences and Environmental Science
Minor
Chemistry
KY House District #
61
KY Senate District #
20
Faculty Advisor/ Mentor
Joshua T. Cooper, PhD
Department
Department of Biological Sciences
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance has been a developing concern for the scientific community since the establishment of the first antibiotic. The most acknowledged attribution to this crisis is over-prescription and the use of antibiotics in both human healthcare and livestock management. Given that natural aquatic bacterial communities are frequently exposed to antimicrobial drugs, aquatic ecosystems are optimal environments for the establishment and spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARBs). The resistome is the name for all ARB, including naturally resistant or human-induced resistance, in a habitat. Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTP) collect water from human activities and deposit treated water into nearby water sources. A major component of older WWTP systems is combined sewer outflows (CSO). During increased precipitation periods, the combined volume of water from storm drains and sewer systems are too high to be processed in the WWTP. As a result, the combination of rainwater and sewage from the surrounding community is released into the nearest body of water which may expose aquatic communities that are used for navigation, drinking water, and recreation, such as the Ohio River, to antimicrobial compounds. There are more than 40 CSOs on the Kentucky side of the Ohio River with a majority in the upper watershed. CSOs on the Licking River are more prevalent near the confluence with the Ohio River, though, there are few near the rural upper watershed. Overall, the Licking River contained more isolated heterotrophic bacteria (total bacterial counts) than the Ohio River. Samples near CSOs had higher ARB abundance in both rivers. Our initial hypothesis that CSOs contribute to the development of the resistome of Northern Kentucky water sources seems supported by our limited dataset. Quantifying the abundance of ARB in the Ohio River is critical to understanding the efficiency of WWTP in removing pathogens, and how CSOs impact important local aquatic ecosystems.
Prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in freshwater ecosystems affected by wastewater effluent
Antibiotic resistance has been a developing concern for the scientific community since the establishment of the first antibiotic. The most acknowledged attribution to this crisis is over-prescription and the use of antibiotics in both human healthcare and livestock management. Given that natural aquatic bacterial communities are frequently exposed to antimicrobial drugs, aquatic ecosystems are optimal environments for the establishment and spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARBs). The resistome is the name for all ARB, including naturally resistant or human-induced resistance, in a habitat. Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTP) collect water from human activities and deposit treated water into nearby water sources. A major component of older WWTP systems is combined sewer outflows (CSO). During increased precipitation periods, the combined volume of water from storm drains and sewer systems are too high to be processed in the WWTP. As a result, the combination of rainwater and sewage from the surrounding community is released into the nearest body of water which may expose aquatic communities that are used for navigation, drinking water, and recreation, such as the Ohio River, to antimicrobial compounds. There are more than 40 CSOs on the Kentucky side of the Ohio River with a majority in the upper watershed. CSOs on the Licking River are more prevalent near the confluence with the Ohio River, though, there are few near the rural upper watershed. Overall, the Licking River contained more isolated heterotrophic bacteria (total bacterial counts) than the Ohio River. Samples near CSOs had higher ARB abundance in both rivers. Our initial hypothesis that CSOs contribute to the development of the resistome of Northern Kentucky water sources seems supported by our limited dataset. Quantifying the abundance of ARB in the Ohio River is critical to understanding the efficiency of WWTP in removing pathogens, and how CSOs impact important local aquatic ecosystems.