Detecting the Presence of Antibiotic Resistance Genes (ARGs) in Waterways in Proximity to Different Hospitals in North Georgia.

Antibiotics are powerful medications that combat illnesses caused by bacteria. During treatment, some bacteria may develop resistance to certain antibiotics due to selective pressures. When these resistant bacteria replicate, a problem arises where patients must seek medical attention (including hospitals) to combat the infection that becomes too severe, usually relying on intravenous antibiotics (IV). Additionally, antibiotics are metabolized and excreted from the body mainly through the liver (as feces) and kidneys (urine). Studies show that these metabolites of antibiotics enter wastewater systems and, in some cases, the environment where it contributes to the growing public health concern of antibiotic resistance. When antibiotics kill bacteria cells, its DNA can end up in waterways through runoff, misuse of antibiotics, sewage, or other methods. This study aims to determine if Antibiotic Resistance Genes (ARGs) are present in sampled waterways downstream of hospitals in various towns and cities of northern Georgia. ARGs are DNA segments that codes for antibiotics resistance. This study focuses on the CTX gene, which is an ARG. We sampled upstream and downstream in rivers or creeks that flow in the vicinity of three hospitals in northern Georgia, U.S. After DNA extraction from collected water samples, we measured the DNA concentration, preformed a PCR, and ran it through gel electrophoresis to determine the presence of the CTX gene. We will present our methods and findings.