Antimicrobial resistance in FS – a global public health threat (India)

Antimicrobial resistance has continuously posed challenges to public health worldwide because microbes are becoming less vulnerable to antimicrobial drugs. The degree to which antimicrobial resistance spreads from environmental reservoirs has not been fully explored especially in faecal sludge treatment systems. This study, therefore, sought to determine and quantitatively analyse the distribution of selected antibiotic resistance genes in faecal sludge at different stages of the faecal sludge treatment process, and establish the magnitude at which different treatment units in the faecal sludge treatment process can remove the antibiotic resistant genes. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to determine and quantify two antibiotic resistant genes, i.e. NDM-1 and BlaTEM-1, in two faecal sludge treatment plants (FSTPs) in India: Kelpatta and Ketti FSTPs. It was observed that there was a decrease in the concentration of both genes in the two FSTPs as faecal treatment progressed. The overall removal of NDM-1 and BlaTEM-1 was higher at Kelpatta FSTP because the plant uses anaerobic digester and multiple filtration stages of bio-filters, sand and carbon filters with chlorination at the end. NDM-1 and BlaTEM-1 showed a positive relationship with E. coli concentration in Kelpatta FSTP but not in Ketti FSTP. Resistance of E. coli to beta lactam antibiotics suggests that E. coli may be harbouring the beta lactam resistant genes some of which could be NDM-1 and BlaTEM-1.