CHAPTER 5

CONCLUSION

Because of their complexity, the metabolic pathways involved in the utilization of

pharmaceutical mixtures by microorganisms are not easy to understand.

In this study, the absence of adsorption and abiotic elimination of the three
pharmaceuticals used in this study gives evidence that any decrease in drugs’
concentration can be attributed exclusively to the microbial activity. Consequently, the
ability of the studied bacteria to resist and remove a mixture of drugs to the different rates
presents a signifi cant advantage for bioremediation of the pharmaceutical wastes.