The synergistic impact of multiple emerging contaminants on microorganisms plays an important role in their environmental persistence. The work presented here focuses on the synergistic impact of amoxicillin and iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) on bacterial growth. Antibiotic resistance represents a threat to worldwide public health. Both nanoparticles and subinhibitory environmental concentrations of antibiotics have recently been shown to play an unexpected role in the progression of antibiotic resistance. The impact of these emerging contaminants individually and collectively on the growth profiles of model gram positive and negative bacteria were tracked for 24 h. Results indicate that exposure to subinhibitory concentrations of antibiotics in conjunction with IONPs induced accelerated bacterial growth in <i>P. aeruginosa </i>and <i>S. aureus</i> which was statistically distinguishable. Increased bacterial growth could be explained by the upregulation of cellular metabolism and reproduction resulting from an iron influx which would increase bacterial virulence. While IONPs are often considered to be environmentally friendly and innocuous, the work presented here demonstrates the negative impact these specific nanoparticles induce when in the presence of antibiotics.

Influence of engineered nanoparticles on microorganism growth in the presence and absence of β-lactam antibiotics

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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