Assessment of the bacteriological quality of the raw water and the antimicrobial susceptibility profile of bacteria isolated in water surface of a river

Abstract

Antibiotic resistance in the aquatic environment can originate from contaminants of human and animal origin such as waste, se wage, effluents, chemical and pharmaceutical products. These contaminants may select resistant organisms and/or introduce resistant bacteria directly in this environment. Thus, the aquatic environment acts as a reservoir for the spread of multidrug-resistant bacteria. The aim of this study was to evaluate the microbiological contamination and the level of antibiotic resistance in isolates from samples of raw surface water of the Meia Ponte River, in Goiás State, Brazil. It was performed the multiple -tube fermentation technique to quantify bacterial contamination of the water samples from the river, biochemical tests for the identificat ion of bacterial isolates, and disk diffusion susceptibility test to check sensitivity to antimicrobial agents. It was found high counts of bacteria in the coliform group, mainly during rainy periods. Of the 103 isolated bacteria, the majority was capable of transmitting diseases, mostly gastroenteritis. In addition, it was observed a worrying rate of resistant bacteria present in the environment. Further researches are necessary to understand the demand of antibiotic resistance in the aquatic environment, and to verify its consequences. Some measures should be created to prevent the spread of resistant microorganisms in the environment.