Environmental Fate of Novel Antibiotics

Antibiotics in the environment negatively impact ecosystems, promote emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and compromise infection treatment. Therefore, development of new antibiotic classes, like carbapenems, is crucial in healthcare. We suspect that carbapenems have already made their way into aquatic ecosystems, modifying microbial communities and challenging the enduring efficacy of these powerful new antibiotics. However, there is currently no evidence to support these claims. This project provides evidence regarding the environmental occurrence and fate of carbapenems. Furthermore, it identifies carbapenem degradation products and transformation processes, which will assist as additional carbapenem indicators and may reveal new microbial interaction pathways. By enhancing our understanding of carbapenem ecological fate, this project seeks to shed light on the sustainability of antibiotic replacement for the environment, ecosystems, and ultimately human health.