RIVAR - Human-associated antibiotic resistance in rivers of Lower Austria

• Project number: LSC18-007
• Project Management: Alexander Kirschner, Karl Landsteiner Private University for Health Sciences / Department of Water Quality and Health
• Project partners: University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences Vienna / Department of Agrobiotechnology, IFA-Tulln, Medical University of Graz, Office of the Provincial Government of Lower Austria / Department of Water Management, Medical University of Vienna / Institute of Hygiene and Applied Immunology
• Project duration: 36 months from 1 March 2020

Background

The rise of antibiotic resistance (AMR) is a global threat to human health. In addition to hospitals where multidrug-resistant bacteria are an acute problem, the spread of human-associated antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and resistance genes (ARG) from sewage treatment plants in rivers is becoming increasingly important as river water is used for a variety of purposes (drinking water production, recreation, irrigation). Although many studies have been published in recent years showing the presence of human-induced ARBs
and ARG in rivers, there is no comprehensive quantitative approach that describes and explains the distribution patterns and influencing factors of ARB and ARG associated with humans. For this project, a new quantitative concept was developed to investigate the distribution patterns, dispersal pathways and influencing factors of anthropogenic ARB and ARG along four rivers in Lower Austria that show gradients in river size, land use, faecal load, hospital effluents and possible co-selection factors such as heavy metals. Two hypotheses are tested: (1) The abundance of ARBs and ARGs in water bodies is related to the extent of faecal pollution and hospital effluent discharge. (2) In biofilms, ARB and ARG abundances associated with humans may be decoupled from the extent of faecal pollution and hospital effluents. ARB and ARG proliferation occurs under the influence of certain ecological selection factors (heavy metals). The new concept is based on the quantification of ARB and ARG in specific bacteria determined in water and biofilms by a combined culture- and DNA-based approach. This information will be linked to quantitative data on the extent and sources of faecal contamination and a comprehensive survey of environmental conditions. This study will provide new ideas for understanding and managing microbial water quality and antibiotic resistance in rivers. At the global level, the project directly addresses the basic requirements of the research agenda of the WHO Action Plan on Water, Sanitation and Antimicrobial Resistance. At the European level, it directly addresses the concrete action plan to fill knowledge gaps on AMR under the new EU Action Plan on AMR. At the local level, it makes a direct contribution to the prioritised research area of "organic trace substances" in the thematic field of "water" of the current RTI strategy for Lower Austria. The sustainable cooperation between the project partners at the Inter-University Cooperation Centre Water & Health at the KL Krems, at the IFA Tulln of the University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences Vienna and at the Medical University of Graz is promoted. In this way, the project makes a sustainable contribution to well-being in Lower Austria and beyond.