A review of wastewater-based epidemiology for antimicrobial resistance surveillance

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a significant public health threat due to population growth and accelerated AMR emergence. Inappropriate prescribing in medicine drives overuse. Rapid surveillance of AMR spread is crucial for prevention, intervention, and control. Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) can supplement current surveillance systems and act as an early warning system for outbreaks. WBE allows real-time monitoring of disease outbreaks at the community level through population pooled wastewater.