New Method to Find Antibiotic-Resistant Genes Shows Limits of 'Snapshot' Samples, Chlorination

Testing the contents of a simple sample of wastewater can reveal a lot about what it carries, but fails to tell the whole story, according to Rice University engineers. Their new study shows that composite samples taken over 24 hours at an urban wastewater plant give a much more accurate representation of the level of antibiotic-resistant genes (ARGs) in the water. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), antibiotic resistance is a global health threat responsible for millions of deaths worldwide.In the process, the researchers discovered that while secondary wastewater treatment significantly reduces the amount of target ARG,