Significance of Antibiotics in the Environment

Pharmaceuticals are designed to stimulate a physiological response in humans, animals, bacteria or other organisms. During the past decade, concern has grown about the adverse effects the use and disposal of pharmaceuticals might potentially have on human and ecological health. Research has shown that after passing through wastewater treatment, pharmaceuticals, amongst other compounds, are released directly into the environment.1

The selection and development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria is one of the greatest concerns with regard to the use of antimicrobials.2–5 In a report by the House of Lords, it is stated that: ‘resistance to antibiotics and other anti-infective agents constitutes a major threat to public health and ought to be recognized as such more widely than it is at present’.4 Therefore, the European Union (EU) recommends the prudent use of antimicrobial agents in human medicine.2 With respect to the causes of resistance, the focus is on the use of antimicrobials in hospitals, by medical practitioners, i.e. in prescriptions2 and in animal husbandry. ‘…Coordination between human, veterinary and environment sectors should be ensured and the magnitude of the relationship between the occurrence of antimicrobial resistant pathogens in humans, animals and the environment should be further clarified…’.2 However, very little is known about their contribution to the level of bacterial resistance in the environment and its significance. Also, surprisingly, little is known about the extent of environmental occurrence, transport, and ultimate fate and effects of pharmaceuticals in general, as well as of antibiotics in particular