Hospital wastewater as a source of vancomycin in the environment

Vancomycin (VAN), an antibiotic from WHO watch group, for Gram-positive bacterial infections, was detected in all analysed hospital wastewater samples across Poland, with significant seasonal and regional variability. In the hospital sewage samples examined, the concentration range of this drug varied from 1.2 to 49 940.7 ng L-1 in the winter period, and from 0 to 75 216.4 ng L-1 in the summer period. It should be noted, however, that the median (1306.4 ng L-1) was higher for the summer period. Correlation analysis revealed a strong association between VAN levels and total organic carbon and total nitrogen, suggesting seasonal influences on antibiotic presence in wastewater. Additionally, negative correlations between VAN and selected anions indicate potential interactions affecting antibiotic persistence. These findings underscore the need for improved hospital wastewater management to mitigate antimicrobial resistance and environmental contamination.