Antibiotic resistance is spreading through South Africa's water systems. This study explains how
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is defined as the ability of disease-causing microorganisms to withstand treatments like antibiotics.
Antibiotic resistance, described as a silent pandemic, claims an estimated 1.27 million lives annually, primarily in Africa. Traditionally, efforts to combat this problem have concentrated on hospitals and clinics, yet the issue extends beyond healthcare settings. Resistant bacteria can propagate and disseminate their resistance or transfer resistance genes to other bacteria, spreading via wastewater or human carriers.
Scientists now acknowledge that the environment, including rivers, lakes, and wastewater systems, also contributes to this spread. Wastewater treatment plants, which clean and release water back into rivers or reuse it, serve as sites where bacteria, antibiotic residues, and other pollutants converge. Despite significant reductions in infectious disease burden, these plants can still release extracellular DNA carrying antibiotic resistance genes into the environment.
This genetic material, when incorporated into the DNA of other microorganisms in the environment, can enable resistance to spread without the original bacteria being present. A study in South Africa identified this overlooked pathway of antibiotic resistance spread. Current treatment measures, focusing solely on reducing living bacteria, may not fully capture the risk if the genetic basis for resistance persists.
Hence, advanced treatment technologies, such as ultraviolet treatment, enzymatic degradation, and advanced oxidation, which degrade extracellular DNA in wastewater and reduce its ability to transfer resistance genes, should be considered. Even after standard treatment, extracellular DNA carrying antimicrobial resistance genes persists in water released into the environment in Tshwane.
This evidence suggests treated wastewater could indirectly cause disease, albeit not directly. Similar findings have emerged in other regions. While developed countries are adopting advanced treatment technologies, developing countries face greater challenges due to limited access to safe water, sanitation, and infrastructure. The need for a paradigm shift in understanding antibiotic resistance emerges, requiring collaboration across sectors and public awareness of the risks.
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