Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria in Drinking Water Sources of Lahore, Pakistan: An Emerging Public Health Concern

Aqsa Zulfiqar; Fatima Hassan; Ayesha Siddiqa; Saba Riaz

Authors

Aqsa Zulfiqar Institute of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of the Punjab, Lahore
Fatima Hassan Institute of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of the Punjab, Lahore
Ayesha Siddiqa Institute of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of the Punjab, Lahore
Saba Riaz 1. Institute of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan. 2.Citilab and Research Centre, Faisal Town, Lahore

Keywords:

Antibiotic resistance, Drinking water, Waterborne pathogens, Public health, Beta-lactamase

Abstract

The presence of bacteria resistant to antibiotics in Pakistan is causing a decline in clean and fresh drinking water. Transferable genes are causing antibiotic resistance to spread quickly on a larger scale. This study aims to identify the danger posed by bacteria resistant to antibiotics in drinking water from Lahore and Chichawatni. Samples were inoculated on N agar to determine the CFU/ml count. On MacConkey agar, gram-negative bacteria were isolated. Bacterial species were identified using various biochemical and API kit tests. Several antibiotic discs are used in the antibiotic sensitivity test. The TEM, SHV, and OXA genes have been confirmed through the DNA and plasmid isolation. Out of 25 water samples collected from 11 sites of Lahore and Chichawatni, 100 ampicillin-resistant bacterial isolates were obtained. Among 100 beta-lactam-resistant isolates were 64% Pseudomonas, 15% Enterobacter, 7% Klebsiella, 5% Proteus, 4% Alcaligenes, 2% Salmonella and E. coli and 1% Serratia. Ampicillin-resistant strains showed that 43 out of 100 isolates (43%) were positive for production of beta-lactamases.. All the bacterial isolates were 100% resistant to AMP, 56% to CXM, 32% to TZP, 21% to AK and 10% to IPM. The most predominantly detected beta-lactamase was blaTEM, which was reported in 25%, followed by blaOXA in 22% and blaSHV in 12% bacterial isolates. Plasmid extraction and gel electrophoresis revealed the detection of plasmids in 18% isolates.. Studies have shown that ARB and ARGs are common in drinking water samples across the globe, frequently as a result of inadequate water treatment techniques. Effective water treatment methods, such as boiling, sterilisation, and cleaning of pipes, must be developed and put into place to reduce these risks and determine the frequency and dangers of ARB and ARGs in drinking water.