PubMed · 2026-03-12
Researchers found that feeding antibiotic-contaminated wastewater through a specific type of bacterial digestion system — using sugar-rich conditions at moderate temperatures — breaks down the antibiotic lincomycin most effectively while also reducing the spread of antibiotic resistance genes.
Sugar-rich, moderate-temperature digestion achieved superior antibiotic (lincomycin) breakdown and methane production compared to high-temperature or protein-rich systems
High-temperature (thermophilic) and protein-rich conditions increased the abundance and horizontal transfer of antibiotic resistance genes by enriching resistant bacterial consortia
Feedstock composition had a greater influence on antibiotic resistance spread than temperature, offering a more controllable lever for safe wastewater treatment