Improved methodology for detection of antibiotic resistance mechanisms from wastewater for population surveillance

COVID-19 highlighted the use of wastewater testing as a complementary method to monitor emerging outbreaks of infectious pathogens, including those harboring antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes. As a strategy to complement population testing, wastewater samples can be evaluated to identify increases in the presence of AMR genes in communities. However, the use of molecular testing methods is challenging because many genetic mechanisms contribute to AMR, with the most common being β-Lactamases. To be an effective surveillance strategy, these tests must be designed to identify a broad range of targets associated with AMR, and the methods must be sensitive given the larger wastewater sampling volumes used for analysis.

This poster from Streck, describes the use of Ceres Nanotrap^® Microbiome A and B Particles with the Streck ARM-D^® kits as a workflow for concentrating pathogens in wastewater, followed by screening for antimicrobial resistance mechanisms. The ARM-D kits detect the largest array of AMR mechanisms, which is important when surveying a population for potential outbreaks.