First Multi-Facility Antimicrobial Surveillance in Japanese Hospital Wastewater Reveals Spatiotemporal Trends and Source-Specific Environmental Loads.

ABSTRACT: Background: Hospitals are recognized as point sources of antimicrobials in urban wastewater systems; however, comprehensive evaluations of their discharge profiles have not yet been conducted. Methods: This study presents a multi-site investigation of residual antimicrobial concentrations in effluents from five general hospitals and a commercial facility in the metropolitan area of Japan. Over a 12-week period (December 2023-March 2024), extensive sampling was conducted. Fifteen antimicrobials from multiple classes were quantified using high-throughput analysis. Results: The results revealed consistently higher concentrations in hospital effluents, particularly for levofloxacin, vancomycin, and ampicillin, than in non-clinical sites. Distinct facility-specific and temp

SUBMITTER: Azuma T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12837197 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature