Antidepressant exposure as a source of disinfectant tolerance in waterborne bacteria

Accumulating studies have shown that antidepressants can promote the development of multiple antibiotic resistance in bacteria in vitro, making it possible that patients who consume antidepressants daily may release antibiotic-resistant bacteria in feces. However, whether antidepressant-induced disinfectant-resistant fecal bacteria will enter the wastewater treatment systems, resulting in disinfection failure is still a mystery we must solve. This study indicates that pharmaceutical exposure in the gut may create disinfectant-resistant gut bacteria, which may then be released into water systems, posing serious risks to public health.