The Fish Embryo Acute Toxicity (FET) Test was adopted by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development as OECD TG 236 in 2013. The test has been designed to determine acute toxicity of chemicals on embryonic stages of fish and proposed as an alternative method to the Fish Acute Toxicity Test performed according to OECD TG 203. In recent years fish embryos were used not only in the assessment of toxicity of chemicals but also for environmental and wastewater samples. In our study we investigated the acute toxicity of treated wastewater from seven hospitals in the Czech Republic. Our main purpose was to compare the suitability and sensitivity of zebrafish embryos with the sensitivity of two other aquatic organisms commonly used for wastewater testing - Daphnia magna and Aliivibrio fischeri. For the aim of this study, in addition to the lethal endpoints of the FET test, sublethal effects such as delayed heartbeat, lack of blood circulation, pericardial and yolk sac edema, spinal curvature and pigmentation failures were evaluated. The comparison of three species demonstrated that the sensitivity of zebrafish embryos is comparable or in some cases higher than the sensitivity of D. magna and A. fischeri. The inclusion of sublethal endpoints caused statistically significant increase of the FET test efficiency in the range of 1-12 %. Based on our results, the FET test, especially with the addition of sublethal effects evaluation, can be considered as a sufficiently sensitive and useful additional tool for ecotoxicity testing of the acute toxicity potential of hospital effluents.
- MeSH
- Aliivibrio fischeri drug effects MeSH
- Time Factors MeSH
- Water Pollutants, Chemical toxicity MeSH
- Zebrafish embryology MeSH
- Daphnia drug effects MeSH
- Embryo, Nonmammalian drug effects MeSH
- Risk Assessment MeSH
- Lethal Dose 50 MeSH
- Environmental Monitoring * MeSH
- Hospitals * MeSH
- Wastewater toxicity MeSH
- Reproducibility of Results MeSH
- Toxicity Tests, Acute * MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Check Tag
- Animals MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Comparative Study MeSH
This work compares the prevalence of antibiotic resistant coliform bacteria in hospital wastewater effluents in Slovak (SR) and Czech Republic (ČR). It also describes selected antibiotic resistant isolates in view of resistance mechanism and virulence factor. The highest number of multidrug resistant bacteria was detected in samples from the hospital in Valašské Meziříčí (ČR). More than half of resistant isolates showed multidrug resistance phenotype as well as strong ability to form biofilm. In 42% of isolates efflux pump overproduction was detected together with tetA and tetE genes. The production of extended-spectrum β-lactamases in coliform isolates was encoded mainly by blaTEM, blaCTX-M-2 and blaCTX-M-8/25 genes. About 62% of resistants contained a combination of two or more extended spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL) genes. Our results strengthen the fact that hospital effluents are a source of multidrug resistant bacteria which can spread their resistance genes to other bacteria in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Accordingly, hospital wastewater should be better treated before it enters urban sewerage.
- MeSH
- Anti-Bacterial Agents pharmacology MeSH
- beta-Lactamases genetics MeSH
- Microbial Sensitivity Tests MeSH
- Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial drug effects genetics MeSH
- Hospitals MeSH
- Wastewater * MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
- Geographicals
- Czech Republic MeSH
Health care facilities and hospitals generate significant amounts of wastewater which are released into the sewage system, either after a preliminary treatment or without any further treatment. Hospital wastewater may contain large amounts of hazardous chemicals and pharmaceuticals, some of which cannot be eliminated entirely by wastewater treatment plants. Moreover, hospital effluents may be loaded with a plethora of pathogenic microorganisms or other microbiota and microbiome residues. The need to monitor hospital effluents for their genotoxic hazard is of high importance, as detailed information is scarce. DNA-based information can be acquired directly from samples through the application of various molecular methods, while cell-based biomonitoring assays can provide important information about impaired cellular pathways or mechanisms of toxicity without prior knowledge of the identity of each toxicant. In our study, we evaluated samples of chlorinated hospital wastewater discharged into the sewage system after this disinfection process. The assessment of cytotoxicity, genotoxicity and mutagenicity of the hospital effluents was performed in vitro by using a broad battery of biomonitoring assays that are relevant for human health effects. All the tested hospital wastewater samples could be classified as potentially genotoxic, and it is concluded that the microbiota present in hospital wastewater might contribute to this genotoxic potential.
- MeSH
- Water Pollutants, Chemical * analysis toxicity MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Hospitals MeSH
- Wastewater * toxicity MeSH
- DNA Damage MeSH
- Mutagenicity Tests MeSH
- Check Tag
- Humans MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
The main goal of this work was determination of residues of the antibiotics ofloxacin (OFLO), norfloxacin (NOR), ciprofloxacin (CIPRO), and enrofloxacin (ENRO) in wastewater samples. The samples, after acidification to pH 4.5 and addition of EDTA, were extracted on an anion-exchange cartridge in tandem with an Oasis HLB cartridge. The LC-FD method, developed in previous studies, was based on application of a monolithic C(18) column. The limit of quantification (LOQ) of the method was 250 ng L(-1) for OFLO, 25 ng L(-1) for NOR and CIPRO, and 50 ng L(-1) for ENRO. Mean recovery ranged between 75 and 121% for OFLO, NOR, CIPRO, and ENRO. A total of 14 wastewater samples were analyzed; these were collected from four hospitals and from influent and effluent from a wastewater-treatment plant in Coimbra, Portugal, during spring and autumn. CIPRO was present in all the samples, NOR was detected second most often, followed by OFLO. ENRO was found at concentrations under the LOQ in five hospital samples, and the highest level was found in influent from the WWTP.
- MeSH
- Anti-Bacterial Agents analysis MeSH
- Water Pollutants, Chemical analysis MeSH
- Financing, Organized MeSH
- Fluorescence MeSH
- Fluoroquinolones analysis MeSH
- Calibration MeSH
- Hospitals MeSH
- Reproducibility of Results MeSH
- Seasons MeSH
- Sensitivity and Specificity MeSH
- Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid methods instrumentation MeSH
- Geographicals
- Portugal MeSH
Resistant bacteria may leave the hospital environment through wastewater. The opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa, due to its intrinsic resistance to many antibiotics and its ability to easily acquire antibiotic resistance determinants, poses a significant threat to public health. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antibiotic resistance profiles of cultivated P. aeruginosa in untreated hospital effluents in the Czech Republic. Fifty-nine P. aeruginosa strains isolated from six hospital wastewaters were tested for antimicrobial susceptibility through the disc diffusion method against seven antimicrobial agents. Resistance was found in all antibiotics tested. The highest resistance values were observed for ciprofloxacin (30.5%), gentamicin (28.8%), and meropenem (27.2%). The P. aeruginosa isolates also exhibited resistance to ceftazidime (11.5%), amikacin (11.5%), piperacillin-tazobactam (11.5%), and aztreonam (8.5%). Seventeen strains of P. aeruginosa (28.8%) were classified as multidrug-resistant (MDR). The results of this study revealed that antibiotic-resistant strains are commonly present in hospital wastewater and are resistant to clinically relevant antipseudomonal drugs. In the absence of an appropriate treatment process for hospital wastewater, resistant bacteria are released directly into public sewer networks, where they can serve as potential vectors for the spread of antibiotic resistance.
- MeSH
- Anti-Bacterial Agents pharmacology therapeutic use MeSH
- Drug Resistance, Microbial MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Microbial Sensitivity Tests MeSH
- Hospitals MeSH
- Wastewater microbiology MeSH
- Pseudomonas Infections * drug therapy microbiology MeSH
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa * MeSH
- Check Tag
- Humans MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Geographicals
- Czech Republic MeSH
Within this study, we were interested in the effects of wastewater on the development of antimicrobial resistance. Microorganisms can relatively promptly adapt to evolutionary pressures of the environment, including antibiotics. Therefore, we tested how the adaptability of the model microorganism Salmonella enterica is affected by wastewater full of pharmaceuticals, illicit drugs, and other micropollutants. Wastewater samples had been taken from effluent of hospitals and from wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) Petržalka influent and effluent. In these samples, presence of 38 substances was monitored. The highest concentration was observed in case of tramadol, citalopram, venlafaxine, cotinine, atenolol, valsartan, carbamazepine, azithromycin, and ciprofloxacin. According to this data, we focused also on individual pharmaceutical compounds presented in wastewater samples in elevated concentrations. Effect on resistance development of two pain relief medications (carbamazepine, tramadol), hypotensive medications (atenolol, valsartan), and the nicotine metabolite (cotinine) was also investigated. For this study, we employed concentrations presented in wastewater as well as in urine of patients and/or users. To determine the frequency of mutations leading to ciprofloxacin resistance, we applied the modified Ames test employing the strain Salmonella Typhimurium. Resistance index increased in the case of all wastewater samples from conventional hospitals where we observed a 1.22-1.69-fold increase of mutations leading to ciprofloxacin resistance. Tested compounds caused rise of resistance index in lower concentrations found in wastewater. The most significant increase of resistance index was detected after carbamazepine treatment.
Chemotherapeutics are pharmaceutical compounds the occurrence of which in the environment is of growing concern because of the increase in treatments against cancer diseases. They can reach the aquatic ecosystems after passing through wastewater treatment plants without complete removal. One of the most frequently used chemotherapeutics is 5-fluorouracil which exhibits a strong cytostatic effect. In this paper, an analytical methodology was developed, validated, and applied to determine 5-fluorouracil, its precursor, 5-fluorocytosine, and its major active metabolite, 5-fluorouridine, in hospital wastewater samples. Due to the expected low concentrations after dilution and interferences present in such a complex matrix, a very selective and sensitive detection method is required. Moreover, an extraction method must be implemented prior to the determination in order to purify the sample extract and preconcentrate the target analytes at micrograms per liter concentration levels. Solid-phase extraction followed by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry was the combination of choice and all included parameters were studied. Under optimized conditions for wastewater samples analysis, recoveries from 63 to 108% were obtained, while intraday and interday relative standard deviations never exceeded 20 and 25%, respectively. Limits of detection between 61 and 620 ng/L were achieved. Finally, the optimized method was applied to samples from hospital wastewater effluents.
- MeSH
- Water Pollutants, Chemical analysis MeSH
- Solid Phase Extraction MeSH
- Flucytosine analysis MeSH
- Fluorouracil analysis MeSH
- Molecular Structure MeSH
- Hospitals * MeSH
- Wastewater chemistry MeSH
- Tandem Mass Spectrometry MeSH
- Uridine analogs & derivatives analysis MeSH
- Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
Antibiotic-resistant microorganisms are a major concern for researchers, medical experts, and public healthcare workers. Healthcare organizations, particularly wastewater from hospitals, can pose a significant global health risk if wastewater treatment (WWT) strategies are inadequate or suboptimal. This review article focuses on antibiotic-resistant microorganisms and virulence factors found in microbial contaminants of hospital wastewater. In this review, we synthesize findings from a wide range of studies examining antibiotic resistance and virulence factors of microorganisms in hospital wastewater, highlighting the critical public health challenge posed by microbial contamination in healthcare environments. The rise of drug-resistant bacteria represents a severe threat to global health since ailments arising from these organisms are becoming more challenging to cure. Understanding the virulence mechanisms of the aforementioned diseases is essential for developing potent disease-effective prevention and counter-measure strategies. Analysis of hospital effluents reveals a variety of virulence factors, emphasizing the prospective health risks linked with wastewater pollution. The surrounding and societal influence on the well-being of hospital waste underscores the urgent need to develop and implement robust medical waste management and wastewater treatment protocols. This study reviews various treatment technologies aimed at mitigating antibiotic resistance in hospital wastewater, underscoring the importance of comprehensive approaches to curb the spread of drug-resistant bacteria. The insights provided are crucial for improving wastewater management practices to protect public health and prevent the widespread distribution of resistance to antibiotics.
- MeSH
- Anti-Bacterial Agents pharmacology MeSH
- Drug Resistance, Microbial * MeSH
- Bacteria * drug effects genetics pathogenicity isolation & purification MeSH
- Drug Resistance, Bacterial * MeSH
- Virulence Factors * genetics MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Hospitals MeSH
- Wastewater * microbiology MeSH
- Check Tag
- Humans MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Review MeSH
The COVID-19 outbreak led to the discovery of SARS-CoV-2 in sewage; thus, wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) could have the virus in their effluent. However, whether SARS-CoV-2 is eradicated by sewage treatment is virtually unknown. Specifically, the objectives of this study include (i) determining whether a mixed matrixed membrane (MMM) is able to remove SARS-CoV-2 (polycarbonate (PC)-hydrous manganese oxide (HMO) and PC-silver nanoparticles (Ag-NP)), (ii) comparing filtration performance among different secondary treatment processes, and (iii) evaluating whether artificial neural networks (ANNs) can be employed as performance indicators to reduce SARS-CoV-2 in the treatment of sewage. At Shariati Hospital in Mashhad, Iran, secondary treatment effluent during the outbreak of COVID-19 was collected from a WWTP. There were two PC-Ag-NP and PC-HMO processes at the WWTP targeted. RT-qPCR was employed to detect the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in sewage fractions. For the purposes of determining SARS-CoV-2 prevalence rates in the treated effluent, 10 L of effluent specimens were collected in middle-risk and low-risk treatment MMMs. For PC-HMO, the log reduction value (LRV) for SARS-CoV-2 was 1.3-1 log10 for moderate risk and 0.96-1 log10 for low risk, whereas for PC-Ag-NP, the LRV was 0.99-1.3 log10 for moderate risk and 0.94-0.98 log10 for low risk. MMMs demonstrated the most robust absorption performance during the sampling period, with the least significant LRV recorded in PC-Ag-NP and PC-HMO at 0.94 log10 and 0.96 log10, respectively.
- MeSH
- COVID-19 * epidemiology MeSH
- Metal Nanoparticles * MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Neural Networks, Computer MeSH
- Wastewater MeSH
- Sewage MeSH
- SARS-CoV-2 MeSH
- Silver MeSH
- Check Tag
- Humans MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
