Metagenomics Analysis of Microbial Species and Antibiotic Resistance Genes (ARGs) in Untreated Wastewater from Different Types of Hospitals in Hangzhou

Abstract

Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) are contaminants that can propagate through a variety of environmental media. They contribute to an increase in the number of antibiotic-resistant microbes and thereby pose a danger to human health. Discharge from hospitals is the most significant contributor of ARGs and antibiotic-resistant bacteria to the natural environment. A comprehensive understanding of the microbiological structure and the distribution of ARGs in hospital wastewater can facilitate appropriate treatment of such wastewater and can improve our understanding of the pathophysiology of several epidemic illnesses. In this work, metagenomics techniques were used to compare the microbial species and ARGs in a control group with those in untreated wastewater from three types of hospitals (a general hospital, a hospital of traditional Chinese medicine, and an oral specialty hospital). The microbiota found in the hospital wastewater represented 6,415 species and 244 phyla. The composition of the bacterial community in the wastewater from the three hospitals was significantly different from that in the control group. The ARGs in the samples were also analyzed using the Antibiotic Resistance Genes Database (ARDB) and Comprehensive Antibiotic Resistance Database (CARD). Finally, the link between abundant species and ARGs in the samples was examined. The findings of this study indicate that a connection exists between the microbial species and the ARG composition found in the wastewater samples. A variety of distinct genera of ARGs, each having their own unique correlations, have been found in wastewater from various hospitals. Consequently, the ARGs and microbial species found in the untreated wastewater from various hospitals have unique characteristics. Therefore, more detailed protocols need to be established to treat wastewater from various types of hospitals. Further studies should examine whether a connection exists between the various microbial species found in the wastewater of various types of hospitals and certain illnesses.