ANTIBIOTIC-RESISTANT BACTERIA AND GENES IN DRINKING WATER Implications for drinking water production and quality monitoring.

The presence of trace levels of antibiotics and antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) in source water and final drinking water is an emerging quality and health issue. This aspect has been demonstrated in international and local studies. It is widely accepted that antibiotic resistance results from the excessive use of antibiotics and antimicrobial agents. Sub-therapeutic levels of these antibiotics may land in rivers, lakes and wetlands as part of treated sewage or from animal production facilities. The organic and inorganic pollutants could be selecting for antimicrobial-resistant microorganisms (AMRMs). However, the extent to which water sources act as reservoirs for AMRMs and antimicrobial-resistant genes (AMRGs) is relatively undetermined. Another aspect that is receiving more attention is the potential impacts of antimicrobial substances and AMRMs on drinking water production. This contributes to the rapid increase in antibiotic resistance, leading to the failure of treatment of bacterial infections in clinical and veterinary settings. This has been identified as an emerging global health concern. The present study investigated the occurrence of antibiotic-resistant genes (ARGs) and ARB in selected raw water and water after being treated in drinking water production facilities (DWPFs). Such data will inform whether monitoring steps, additional to the current national standards, are required.