Urban wastewater treatment plants as hotspots for antibiotic resistant bacteria and genes spread into the environment: A review

► UWTPs may positively affect ARB spread and selection as well as ARG transfer. ► Resistance integrons may be used to characterize ARG transfer. ► High trough technologies are a useful complementation of PCR technologies. ► Biological process effect on ARB and ARG transfer should be further investigated. ► Advanced treatments/disinfection effect should be further investigated too.