Rivers and streams carry many antibiotics and actually contribute to the rise in antibiotic resistance in the environment.
Researchers from the University of Warwick's School of Life Sciences and the University of Exeter Medical School analyzed water and sediment from 13 sites in the Thames River and waterways leading into the river. They found higher level of antibiotic-resistant bacteria close to some wastewater treatment plants.
"We've found that wastewater discharges affect resistance levels and that improvements in our treatment processes could hold the key to reducing the prevalence of resistant bacteria in the environment," said Elizabeth Wellington, a professor at the University of Warwick.
Increased levels of antibiotic resistance in rivers and streams could increase the risk of human exposure, according to researchers, but more research is required to understand the risk to public health.