Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in Wastewater
21 March 2025 publication
AMR occurs when disease-causing bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites (pathogens) are no longer affected by the medicines that have been developed to target them. Drug-resistant pathogens can cause infections that are difficult or impossible to treat; they increase the risk of disease spread and can lead to severe illness, disability and death.
Wastewater is commonly contaminated with antimicrobial resistant micro-organisms and antimicrobial compounds. Upon entering our environment, such as rivers and seas, contaminated wastewater therefore serves as a pathway for, and major contributor to, the spread of AMR in the UK and worldwide. Importantly, wastewater serves not only as a vehicle for AMR but also as a critical tool for tracking and mitigating its spread.
There are various interventions to tackle AMR in wastewater, including strengthening monitoring and surveillance, improving stakeholder engagement and enhancing treatment technologies and practices. We urge stakeholders to adopt a combination of interventions tailored to local contexts, recognising the interconnected and cross-sectoral nature of AMR and its presence in wastewater.