Promoting resistance by the emission of antibiotics from hospitals and households into effluent

Objective There is growing concern about bacterial resistance to antimicrobials. The majority of antibiotics used are only partially metabolized after administration, and are released via patient excreta into the municipal sewage system. Data on the use of antibiotics and their emission into hospital effluent are not available. Methods Antibiotic consumption in Germany was calculated on the basis of five hospitals of varying size and medical service spectrum and on prescriptions issued by medical practitioners. The predicted environmental concentration (PEC) was calculated for hospital effluent and for municipal sewage. The PECs were compared both with published minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC50) for sensitive pathogenic bacteria and with the predicted no-effect concentrations (PNECs). Results The amount of antibiotics emitted into hospital effluent may reach and exceed the MIC50 of susceptible pathogenic bacteria. The PEC/PNEC ratio is highest for hospital effluent (in some cases 10-20 times the MIC50) and frequently > 1 for municipal sewage. PECs are high enough for some compounds to have a PEC/PNEC ratio > 1 even in surface water. Conclusion The volume of antibiotics used in hospitals and private households and released into effluent and municipal sewage indicates a selection pressure on bacteria. Steps should be taken to reduce the risk by proper handling of antibiotics and their residues both in hospitals and by private users.