BIOREMEDIATION OF ANTIBIOTICS FROM ENVIRONMENTAL MEDIA (ANTIBIOTICS AND ANTIBIOTICS RESISTANT BACTERIA)

Abstract The pervasive contamination of environmental media particularly antibiotics and antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) has emerged as a critical ecological and public health challenge. These contaminants, originating from wastewater treatment plants, agricultural runoff, hospital effluents, and pharmaceutical manufacturing, persist in soil, water, and sediments, where they exert selective pressure that accelerates the emergence and dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Traditional remediation techniques often fail to completely eliminate these pollutants or may generate toxic by-products, underscoring the urgent need for sustainable and innovative alternatives. Bioremediation offers a promising, eco-friendly, and cost-effective solution by harnessing the natural metabolic capacities of microorganisms, plants, and enzymes to degrade or remove antibiotics and ARGs from the environment. This report presents a critical synthesis of current advances in microbial degradation, phytoremediation, enzyme-based catalysis, and integrated biotechnological systems such as constructed wetlands and membrane bioreactors. Emphasis is also placed on emerging strategies for targeting ARB and ARGs, including the use of bacteriophages, DNase treatments, and bioaugmentation with engineered microbial consortia. Despite its potential, bioremediation of environmental pollutants faces several challenges, including incomplete degradation, ecological risks of genetically modified organisms, and the resilience of ARGs in environmental reservoirs. Addressing these requires an interdisciplinary approach that combines environmental microbiology, molecular biology, and engineering innovations, supported by real-time monitoring tools like metagenomics and qPCR. Ultimately, this report underscores that while no single strategy is universally effective, a well-designed, multi-barrier bioremediation framework holds significant promise for reducing environmental pollution and mitigating the global threat of antibiotic resistance. The future of environmental and public health protection lies in advancing and scaling these biological solutions through research, policy, and global collaboration.