Impact of Social Restrictions During COVID-19 on the Aquatic Levels of Antimicrobials and Other Drugs in Delhi

This study evaluates post-lockdown levels of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) in water resources in Delhi-NCR. It found that over 90% of APIs, including antibiotics, decreased drastically in surface water and aquifers compared to previous data. Antimicrobial resistance was found in coliforms from surface water and drain, indicating the possibility of hospital waste and treatment-related drugs entering the Yamuna River. The study suggests that enforcing regulations for safe antibiotic disposal and preliminary disinfection of hospital sewage could help minimize antibiotic resistance in the environment.