Antibiotics, Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria and Antibiotic Resistance Genes – Emerging Pollutants in Surface Waters and Anthropogenically Influenced Waters

Abstract

The growing antimicrobial resistance of pathogenic bacteria is considered as one of the main threats to human and animal health. Despite the association of the problem mainly with clinical pathogens, there is growing evidence of a relationship with anthropogenic influence on the water. The review examines the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance among microbiomes in drinking, surface and wastewater and water-related biofilms, and summarizes available data on the content of antibiotics, antibiotic-resistant bacteria and resistance genes as pollutants of growing importance to aquatic ecosystems.