Systematic monitoring of the bacterial communities and the abundance of antibiotic resistance genes in the inlets and outlets of a wastewater treatment plant

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) treat wastewater from multiple sources and origins. This wastewater contains various types of contaminants, including potential human pathogens and antibiotic resistant bacteria. Due to their uncomplete removal, WWTPs release part of these contaminants in the environment, raising a potential sanitary risk. In this study, the bacterial community as well as a selection of antibiotic resistance genes were systematically analyzed over 18 months, for evaluating the impact of WWTP releases.