Antimicrobial resistance is considered to be one of the greatest global public health threats of the 21st century. The discharge of antibiotics into the environment may increase antimicrobial resistance as well as disrupt proper ecosystem functioning. Thus, evaluating the antibiotics present in Minnesota’s environment as well as contributing factors to their presence in their environment will provide invaluable information for improving water quality and protecting human and ecosystem health. This goal is being accomplished through sampling water and sediment at field sites across Minnesota variably impacted by human and animal husbandry activity. Twenty-five antibiotics from various therapeutic classes used in both human and veterinary medicine have been quantified using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry to determine trends. Preliminary results indicate that antibiotics primarily used in animals are primarily found in sites impacted by animals while the same holds true for human antibiotics. As a general rule, the total quantity of antibiotics increased sampling points upstream of the wastewater effluent outfalls to those downstream. In total, tetracycline, doxycycline, oxytetracycline, and sulfadimethoxine were found most often. The results are being used to develop a geospatial model of antibiotic and antibiotic resistance in Minnesota’s environment.

Mapping the antibiotic footprint in Minnesota

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.