Microbial interactions with pharmaceutical pollutants: Implications for biodegradation and antibiotic resistance

Pharmaceutical pollutants, including antibiotics, analgesics, steroids, and endocrine disruptors, are emerging as persistent pollutants in aquatic systems. Their continuous discharge through wastewater and pharmaceutical effluents has raised serious environmental and health concerns due to their role in promotion and selection of antibiotic resistance in micro-organisms. Microorganisms have demonstrated the ability to mineralize and transform pharmaceutical pollutants through specific metabolic pathways and enzymes. This review provides a comprehensive view of microbial degradation of pharmaceutical pollutants, explaining the role of key microbial strains with their responses. Further, it explores the link between the pharmaceutical exposure and antibiotic resistance through selection of antibiotic resistance genes. The influence of environmental parameters and microbial synergism has been discussed to enhance the bioremediation efficiency. In addition, emerging strategies and co-metabolic approaches were evaluated for their enhanced degradation ability. The eco-toxicological impacts of pharmaceuticals and their transformation products are also assessed, pharmaceuticals and their transformation products are assessed. Current research challenges and future prospects have been outlined to advance sustainable microbial approaches for pharmaceutical remediation.