The presence of antibiotics in the environment is of concern due to the potential for selection of resistant bacteria.  Tetracycline is one of many antibiotics that have been detected at low concentrations in natural waters. In this study the photoproducts generated by photodegradation of tetracycline under environmentally relevant conditions were examined to determine their potential environmental significance. Tetracycline is known to degrade by direct photolysis into at least 7 different photoproducts under varying conditions. Water hardness and pH are two characteristics of a natural environment that can alter the decomposition pathway of tetracycline. Here, both growth inhibition and luminescence inhibition of the bacteria Vibrio fischeri were measured in the presence of varied concentrations of both photolyzed and unphotolyzed tetracycline to determine the potential antibacterial activity of its photoproducts in diverse waters and conditions.  In all cases studied to date, we have determined that the photoproducts retain no significant antibacterial activity.

Analysis of the antibacterial properties of tetracycline photoproducts using <i>Vibrio fischeri</i> bioluminescence and growth tests

239th National Meeting (2010)

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Analysis of the antibacterial properties of tetracycline photoproducts using Vibrio fischeri bioluminescence and growth tests