The surveillance of antimicrobial resistance in wastewater from a one health perspective: A global scoping and temporal review (2014–2024)

Surveillance of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) via a One Health approach must consider the interconnectivity between humans, animals, and the environment. Traditionally, AMR surveillance has relied upon patient-based surveillance in healthcare settings. Wastewater surveillance (WWS) has recently bee...

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Main Authors: Rhiannon Punch, Rayane Azani, Claire Ellison, Anna Majury, Paul D. Hynds, Sarah Jane Payne, R. Stephen Brown
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-12-01
Series:One Health
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352771425001752
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author Rhiannon Punch
Rayane Azani
Claire Ellison
Anna Majury
Paul D. Hynds
Sarah Jane Payne
R. Stephen Brown
author_facet Rhiannon Punch
Rayane Azani
Claire Ellison
Anna Majury
Paul D. Hynds
Sarah Jane Payne
R. Stephen Brown
author_sort Rhiannon Punch
collection DOAJ
description Surveillance of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) via a One Health approach must consider the interconnectivity between humans, animals, and the environment. Traditionally, AMR surveillance has relied upon patient-based surveillance in healthcare settings. Wastewater surveillance (WWS) has recently been demonstrated for monitoring AMR to and/or from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) which represent a point of intersection between humans, animals and the environment. WWS can be associated with AMR presence and dissemination across entire communities or WWTP catchments, as well as the transfer of AMR to agricultural lands and receiving waters via genes and/or organisms. In this review, the various methodologies used for WWS of AMR and their interpretative significance are identified and discussed, in addition to the potential approaches and outcomes associated with AMR monitoring within WWTPs. A total of 177 reports were identified covering the period 2014 to October 2024, with 136 (76.8 %) appearing after 2019. These recent papers show a distinct emphasis on qPCR and sequencing-based approaches. Surveillance is now global in scope, albeit with a current emphasis on WWTPs in high-income countries. To achieve more effective, global WWS of AMR under a One Health lens, all relevant sectors must understand the principles and capabilities of available methodologies and technologies. Overall, this review seeks to illuminate the diverse interpretations that can be made from WWS of AMR in a One Health context and identify how best to inform future directions regarding AMR monitoring and prevention efforts.
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spelling doaj-art-e2c0a9e511374faf88aee1de35c093102025-08-20T02:40:44ZengElsevierOne Health2352-77142025-12-012110113910.1016/j.onehlt.2025.101139The surveillance of antimicrobial resistance in wastewater from a one health perspective: A global scoping and temporal review (2014–2024)Rhiannon Punch0Rayane Azani1Claire Ellison2Anna Majury3Paul D. Hynds4Sarah Jane Payne5R. Stephen Brown6School of Environmental Studies, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, CanadaSchool of Environmental Studies, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, CanadaBeaty Water Research Centre, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, CanadaSchool of Environmental Studies, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada; Public Health Ontario, Kingston, Ontario, Canada; Public Health Ontario, Kingston, Ontario, CanadaSchool of Environmental Studies, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada; Sustainability and Health Research Hub, Technological University Dublin, Dublin, IrelandBeaty Water Research Centre, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada; Beaty Water Research Centre, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, CanadaSchool of Environmental Studies, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada; Beaty Water Research Centre, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada; Corresponding author at: Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.Surveillance of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) via a One Health approach must consider the interconnectivity between humans, animals, and the environment. Traditionally, AMR surveillance has relied upon patient-based surveillance in healthcare settings. Wastewater surveillance (WWS) has recently been demonstrated for monitoring AMR to and/or from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) which represent a point of intersection between humans, animals and the environment. WWS can be associated with AMR presence and dissemination across entire communities or WWTP catchments, as well as the transfer of AMR to agricultural lands and receiving waters via genes and/or organisms. In this review, the various methodologies used for WWS of AMR and their interpretative significance are identified and discussed, in addition to the potential approaches and outcomes associated with AMR monitoring within WWTPs. A total of 177 reports were identified covering the period 2014 to October 2024, with 136 (76.8 %) appearing after 2019. These recent papers show a distinct emphasis on qPCR and sequencing-based approaches. Surveillance is now global in scope, albeit with a current emphasis on WWTPs in high-income countries. To achieve more effective, global WWS of AMR under a One Health lens, all relevant sectors must understand the principles and capabilities of available methodologies and technologies. Overall, this review seeks to illuminate the diverse interpretations that can be made from WWS of AMR in a One Health context and identify how best to inform future directions regarding AMR monitoring and prevention efforts.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352771425001752Antimicrobial resistanceWastewater surveillanceOne healthAntibiotic resistant organismsAntibiotic resistant genesWastewater treatment plants
spellingShingle Rhiannon Punch
Rayane Azani
Claire Ellison
Anna Majury
Paul D. Hynds
Sarah Jane Payne
R. Stephen Brown
The surveillance of antimicrobial resistance in wastewater from a one health perspective: A global scoping and temporal review (2014–2024)
One Health
Antimicrobial resistance
Wastewater surveillance
One health
Antibiotic resistant organisms
Antibiotic resistant genes
Wastewater treatment plants
title The surveillance of antimicrobial resistance in wastewater from a one health perspective: A global scoping and temporal review (2014–2024)
title_full The surveillance of antimicrobial resistance in wastewater from a one health perspective: A global scoping and temporal review (2014–2024)
title_fullStr The surveillance of antimicrobial resistance in wastewater from a one health perspective: A global scoping and temporal review (2014–2024)
title_full_unstemmed The surveillance of antimicrobial resistance in wastewater from a one health perspective: A global scoping and temporal review (2014–2024)
title_short The surveillance of antimicrobial resistance in wastewater from a one health perspective: A global scoping and temporal review (2014–2024)
title_sort surveillance of antimicrobial resistance in wastewater from a one health perspective a global scoping and temporal review 2014 2024
topic Antimicrobial resistance
Wastewater surveillance
One health
Antibiotic resistant organisms
Antibiotic resistant genes
Wastewater treatment plants
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352771425001752
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