Treatment Processes for Microbial Resistance Mitigation: The Technological Contribution to Tackle the Problem of Antibiotic Resistance

Gabriela Bairán, Georgette Rebollar-Pérez, Edith Chávez-Bravo and Eduardo Torres
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Gabriela Bairán: Instituto de Ciencias, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Puebla 72570, Mexico
Georgette Rebollar-Pérez: Facultad de Ingeniería Química, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Puebla 72570, Mexico
Edith Chávez-Bravo: Instituto de Ciencias, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Puebla 72570, Mexico
Eduardo Torres: Instituto de Ciencias, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Puebla 72570, Mexico

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 23, 1-20

Abstract: Advances generated in medicine, science, and technology have contributed to a better quality of life in recent years; however, antimicrobial resistance has also benefited from these advances, creating various environmental and health problems. Several determinants may explain the problem of antimicrobial resistance, such as wastewater treatment plants that represent a powerful agent for the promotion of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARG), and are an important factor in mitigating the problem. This article focuses on reviewing current technologies for ARB and ARG removal treatments, which include disinfection, constructed wetlands, advanced oxidation processes (AOP), anaerobic, aerobic, or combined treatments, and nanomaterial-based treatments. Some of these technologies are highly intensive, such as AOP; however, other technologies require long treatment times or high doses of oxidizing agents. From this review, it can be concluded that treatment technologies must be significantly enhanced before the environmental and heath problems associated with antimicrobial resistance can be effectively solved. In either case, it is necessary to achieve total removal of bacteria and genes to avoid the possibility of regrowth given by the favorable environmental conditions at treatment plant facilities.

Keywords: advance oxidation processes; electrochemistry; microbial resistance; ozonation; photocatalysis; treatment technologies (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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