A simple model of tetracycline antibiotic resistance in the aquatic environment (with application to the Poudre River).

ABSTRACT: Antibiotic resistance is a major concern, yet it is unclear what causes the relatively high densities of resistant bacteria in the anthropogenically impacted environment. There are various possible scenarios (hypotheses): (A) Input of resistant bacteria from wastewater and agricultural sources is significant, but they do not grow in the environment; (B) Input of resistant bacteria is negligible, but the resistant bacteria (exogenous or endogenous) grow due to the selection pressure of the antibiotic; (C) Exogenous bacteria transfer the resistance to the endogenous bacteria and those grow. This paper presents a simple mechanistic model of tetracycline resistance in the aquatic environment. It includes state variables for tetracyclines, susceptible and resistant bacteria, and particulate and

SUBMITTER: Hellweger FL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3084473 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature