blaTEM and vanA as indicator genes of antibiotic resistance contamination in a hospital-urban wastewater treatment plant system

- Hospital effluents may be important sources of the resistance genes blaTEM and vanA.
- High potential for genetic recombination in wastewater is observed.
- marA may contribute to understand resistance dynamics during wastewater treatment.
- Conventional wastewater treatment has a limited capacity to remove resistance genes.
- blaTEM and vanA suggested as indicator genes to monitor resistance in the environment.