Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the greatest global health threats of the century, which affects people all over the world. AMR can be exacerbated through the entry of antibiotics into the environment. Overuse of antibiotics can lead to their entry into the environment through point sources such as hospitals, long-term care facilities, and agricultural runoff. This work is part of a larger collaboration that has the goal of creating a microgeographic analysis of water systems in Minnesota to determine the origin and fate of antibiotics in the environment. Currently, the fate and transport of some antibiotics and their metabolites are not well documented in the literature. Antibiotic fate can be affected by direct and indirect photodegradation, sorption, and biodegradation. Here, we addressed identified data gaps in known values of direct photolysis quantum yields of antibiotics from several classes, including macrolides and tetracyclines, through a series of laboratory experiments. Quantum yields were measured by photolyzing antibiotics in a Suntest CPS<sup>+</sup> solar simulator alongside a p-nitroanisole/pyridine actinometer; parent antibiotic concentrations were monitored via HPLC. Quantum yields determined in this study will further our understanding of potential degradation pathways of antibiotics in sunlit surface waters. This data, alongside antibiotic usage data, can be used to guide mitigation strategies to reduce AMR spread in the environment.

Determination of quantum yield values of antibiotics detected in Minnesota surface waters

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