Removal of antibiotic resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes: a bibliometric review

The spread of antibiotic resistance is a global threat, causing elevated death rates and economic costs. A growing number of studies have focused on the removal of antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in environmental settings. However, summaries and reviews of removal techniques are limited. This study examined publications on ARB and ARGs removal from 1998 to 2023 through a bibliometric approach based on the Web of Science database. Research progress during the past 26 years was analyzed by collecting annual publications, countries, journals and keywords. The number of articles related to the removal of ARB and ARGs has increased annually. The main types of ARB and ARGs, their environmental milieus and the most commonly studied removal techniques were summarized by keyword clustering. The results revealed that tetracycline- and sulfonamide-resistant bacteria are the ARB of greatest concern; that sul1, sul2, and tetA are the most frequently studied ARGs; and that municipal sewage and drinking water are the most studied ARB and ARGs transmission sites. For treatment techniques, adsorption technology is the most widely studied, and the selection of adsorption materials is particularly important, with nanomaterials and biomodified materials having great prospects for development. The combination of membrane filtration with advanced oxidation treatment or biodegradation technology is the most promising technology in this field. Our findings can inform future efforts to further reduce the distribution risks of antibiotic resistance and improve removal techniques.