1. Introduction to wastewater microbiology: special emphasis on hospital wastewater 1.1 Introduction 1.2 History of wastewater origin and treatment 1.3 History of microbiology and pathogens discovery 1.4 Antibiotic discovery 1.5 Pharmaceuticals in hospital wastewater 1.6 Presence of pharmacological substances in aquatic environment 1.7 Conclusion and future perspectives Abbreviations References 2. Pharmaceutical metabolites and their by-products in hospital wastewater 2.1 Introduction 2.2 Pharmaceutical metabolites and their classification 2.3 Route of entry and fate of pharmaceutical compounds 2.4 Metabolism and transformation mechanism of pharmaceutical compounds 2.5 Ecotoxicity of pharmaceutical compounds 2.6 Detection of pharmaceutical compounds 2.7 Conclusions and perspectives Abbreviations References 3. Physical, chemical, and biological impact (hazard) of hospital wastewater on environment: presence of pharmaceuticals, pathogens, and antibiotic-resistance genes 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Pharmaceuticals and pathogens in hospital wastewater 3.3 The development of antibiotic resistance genes 3.4 The transportation of pharmaceuticals and pathogens in the environment 3.5 The prevention of pharmaceuticals and pathogens into environment 3.6 Conclusions and perspectives References 4. Microbiology of hospital wastewater 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Microorganisms and pathogens originating from hospital wastewater 4.3 Antibiotic-resistance genes prevalence in environment 4.4 Tools used to identify antibiotic-resistance genes 4.5 Metagenomics of hospital wastewater 4.6 Horizontal gene transfer 4.7 Emerging infectious particles 4.8 Conclusions and perspectives Abbreviations 5. Fate of pathogens and viruses in hospital wastewater and their treatment methods 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Pathogen surveillance and detection in hospital wastewater 5.3 Types of pathogens present in hospital wastewater 5.4 Treatment methods available for pathogens present in hospital wastewater 5.5 Treated water monitoring and analysis 5.6 Summary 5.7 Conclusions and perspectives Abbreviations References 6. Multidrug-resistant genes and pathogenic bacteria in hospital wastewater 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Origin and mechanism of drug resistance 6.3 Antifungal drug resistance 6.4 Antibiotic-resistance bacteria 6.5 Antibiotic-resistance genes 6.6 Conclusions and perspectives Abbreviations References 7. Cancer treatment drugs and endocrine-disrupting chemicals release and fate in hospital wastewater 7.1 Introduction 7.2 List of chemicals released in the hospital wastewater 7.3 Endocrine-disrupting chemicals 7.4 Challenges in hospital wastewater treatment 7.5 Conclusions and perspectives Abbreviations References 8. Pharmaceuticals roles in microbial evolution 8.1 Introduction 8.2 Microbial evolution and adaptation 8.3 Aquatic environment microbiology 8.4 Soil microbiology 8.5 Effect on plants, animals, and humans in long run 8.6 Conclusions and perspectives Abbreviations References 9. Present scenario of antibiotic use in veterinary practice: importance of wastewater microbiology 9.1 Introduction 9.2 Antibiotic released in veterinary applications 9.3 Microbial association with animals 9.4 Dissemination of animal pathogens to environment 9.5 Animal viruses in wastewater 9.6 Recent studies on wastewater associated with animals 9.7 Molecular detection of veterinary pathogens 9.8 Policy interventions in animal health 9.9 Conclusions and perspectives Abbreviations References 10. Bacteriophages isolated from hospital wastewater and its role in controlling drug-resistant pathogens 10.1 Introduction 10.2 Background of bacteriophages (Φ) 10.3 Classification of bacteriophages 10.4 Phages commonly found in hospital wastewater 10.5 Role of phages in drug-resistance gene transfer 10.6 General (vast) applications of bacteriophages in different fields 10.7 Limitations of phage use in real world applications 10.8 Removal of phages from wastewater treatment plant 10.9 Conclusions and perspectives Abbreviations References 11. Development of molecular methods to detect and control emerging drug-resistance pathogens 11.1 Introduction 11.2 Antibiotic-resistance gene-carrying plasmidome in the cultivable microbial community 11.3 Molecular tools/biosensors development for detection of drug-resistance bacteria and genes 11.4 Recent approaches to control drug resistance development 11.5 Conclusions and perspectives Abbreviations References 12. Riboswitches and aptamers: potential future targets to control drug-resistant bacteria 12.1 Introduction 12.2 History of riboswitches and aptamers 12.3 Role of riboswitches 12.4 Applications of aptamers 12.5 Engineering bacteria using riboswitches and aptamers 12.6 Conclusions and perspectives Abbreviations References 13. Treatment of wastewater containing pharmaceuticals: biological treatment 13.1 Introduction 13.2 Activated sludge process 13.3 Sequential batch reactor 13.4 Membrane bioreactor 13.5 Fluidized bed biofilm reactor and moving bed biofilm reactor 13.6 The impact of property of pharmaceuticals on the removal 13.7 Novel methods and advanced treatment options 13.8 Engineering aspects to improve pharmaceuticals removal with biological process of wastewater treatment 13.9 Technical and economical evaluation of biological processes 13.10 Treatment systems for small flows 13.11 Effect of climate change on the microbiology of the biological treatment process in removing the pharmaceuticals 13.12 Conclusions and perspectives Abbreviations References Further reading 14. Role of chemical treatments in pharmaceuticals degradation and its consequences and environmental risks 14.1 Introduction 14.2 Photocatalysis 14.3 Fenton-type processes 14.4 The electrochemical advance oxidation process 14.5 Treatment of pharmaceutical pollutants by combined wastewater treatment processes 14.6 By-products identification 14.7 Technoeconomic comparison for various hospital wastewater treatment processes 14.8 Challenges in the treatment process 14.9 Conclusion and perspectives References Further reading 15. Hospital wastewater treatment scenario around the globe 15.1 Introduction 15.2 Global scenario of hospital wastewater treatment 15.3 Status of hospital wastewater management in developed countries 15.4 Status of hospital wastewater management in developing countries 15.5 Other countries 15.6 Conclusions and perspectives Abbreviations References 16. Guidelines for hospital wastewater discharge 16.1 Introduction 16.2 Guideline of hospital wastewater discharge to municipal sewer 16.3 On-site treatment of hospital wastewater 16.4 Worker’s health and safety principles 16.5 Conclusions and perspectives Abbreviations References 17. Future impacts and trends in treatment of hospital wastewater 17.1 Introduction 17.2 Emerging infectious diseases 17.3 Threats 17.4 Required research action and proposed remedies 17.5 Effect of global warming on pathogens survival 17.6 Conclusions and perspectives Abbreviations References

Introduces physical, chemical and molecular testing methods for the analysis and characterization of hospital wastewater Discusses the environmental impact and health hazards of hospital wastewater Describes the microbiological aspects of the hospital wastewater, like microbial community, metagenomics, pathogens, VBNC and mechanism of antibiotic resistance development Explains hospital wastewater and its role in microbial evolution Highlights future treatment options, guidelines and drug disposal tactics