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Multiresistant Bacteria Isolated from Activated Sludge in Austria

Author

Listed:
  • Herbert Galler

    (Institute of Hygiene, Microbiology and Environmental Medicine, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria)

  • Gebhard Feierl

    (Institute of Hygiene, Microbiology and Environmental Medicine, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria)

  • Christian Petternel

    (Institute of Laboratory Diagnostics and Microbiology, Klinikum-Klagenfurt am Wörthersee, 9020 Klagenfurt, Austria)

  • Franz F. Reinthaler

    (Institute of Hygiene, Microbiology and Environmental Medicine, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria)

  • Doris Haas

    (Institute of Hygiene, Microbiology and Environmental Medicine, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria)

  • Juliana Habib

    (Institute of Hygiene, Microbiology and Environmental Medicine, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria)

  • Clemens Kittinger

    (Institute of Hygiene, Microbiology and Environmental Medicine, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria)

  • Josefa Luxner

    (Institute of Hygiene, Microbiology and Environmental Medicine, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria)

  • Gernot Zarfel

    (Institute of Hygiene, Microbiology and Environmental Medicine, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria)

Abstract

Wastewater contains different kinds of contaminants, including antibiotics and bacterial isolates with human-generated antibiotic resistances. In industrialized countries most of the wastewater is processed in wastewater treatment plants which do not only include commercial wastewater, but also wastewater from hospitals. Three multiresistant pathogens—extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-harbouring Enterobacteriaceae (Gram negative bacilli), methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin resistant Enterococci (VRE)—were chosen for screening in a state of the art wastewater treatment plant in Austria. Over an investigation period of six months all three multiresistant pathogens could be isolated from activated sludge. ESBL was the most common resistance mechanism, which was found in different species of Enterobacteriaceae, and in one Aeromonas spp. Sequencing of ESBL genes revealed the dominance of genes encoding members of CTX-M β-lactamases family and a gene encoding for PER-1 ESBL was detected for the first time in Austria. MRSA and VRE could be isolated sporadically, including one EMRSA-15 isolate. Whereas ESBL is well documented as a surface water contaminant, reports of MRSA and VRE are rare. The results of this study show that these three multiresistant phenotypes were present in activated sludge, as well as species and genes which were not reported before in the region. The ESBL-harbouring Gram negative bacilli were most common.

Suggested Citation

  • Herbert Galler & Gebhard Feierl & Christian Petternel & Franz F. Reinthaler & Doris Haas & Juliana Habib & Clemens Kittinger & Josefa Luxner & Gernot Zarfel, 2018. "Multiresistant Bacteria Isolated from Activated Sludge in Austria," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-11, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:3:p:479-:d:135543
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Hetty Blaak & Gretta Lynch & Ronald Italiaander & Raditijo A Hamidjaja & Franciska M Schets & Ana Maria de Roda Husman, 2015. "Multidrug-Resistant and Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamase-Producing Escherichia coli in Dutch Surface Water and Wastewater," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(6), pages 1-16, June.
    2. Gernot Zarfel & Herbert Galler & Josefa Luxner & Christian Petternel & Franz F. Reinthaler & Doris Haas & Clemens Kittinger & Andrea J. Grisold & Peter Pless & Gebhard Feierl, 2014. "Multiresistant Bacteria Isolated from Chicken Meat in Austria," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-12, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Izabela Waśko & Aleksandra Kozińska & Ewa Kotlarska & Anna Baraniak, 2022. "Clinically Relevant β-Lactam Resistance Genes in Wastewater Treatment Plants," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-34, October.
    2. Ashok J. Tamhankar & Cecilia Stålsby Lundborg, 2019. "Antimicrobials and Antimicrobial Resistance in the Environment and Its Remediation: A Global One Health Perspective," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-7, November.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    ESBL; MRSA; VRE; sewage sludge; PER-1;
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