Wastewater Sludge Disposal: Antibiotic resistant bacteria may pose health hazard

Bacteria isolated from sludge samples taken from a wastewater treatment plant in upper east Tennessee were tested for antibiotic resistance and R-plasmid transfer. Of the 84 isolated, 61.9% were resistant to at least one of the 11 antibiotics tested, while 46.4% were resistant to two or more antibiotics. The ability to transfer resistance varied from 50% (Klebsiella sp.) to 72.2% (Enterobacter sp.). These results indicate that more study of antibiotic resistant bacteria in wastewater treatment sludge should be considered before sludge is disposed of on land.