Antibiotic resistance among different species of fecal coliforms isolated from water samples

Antibiotic resistant bacteria in surface waters in Slovakia

This work deals with the occurrence of selected antibiotic resistant bacteria in Slovak surface waters. Total and antibiotic resistant coliform bacteria, enterococci and coagulase positive staphylococci were determined in 34 samples of surface water from rivers and still waters (dams, natural lakes, thermal bath) some of them used for recreational swimming. Sampling was performed during summer season 2017 (July and August). The number of total coliforms ranged from 1.74 log CFU/10 mL to 3.69 log CFU/10 mL. Coliform bacteria were registered in each tested sample. The highest number was observed in the sample from river Hron. Majority of samples contained ampicillin and tetracycline resistant bacteria. Enterococci were determined in 70 % of samples ranging from 0.78 log CFU/10 mL to 3.81 log CFU/10 mL. The highest number of enterococci was observed in river Váh. Ampicillin and vancomycin resistance prevailed over ciprofloxacin and gentamicin resistance. Coagulase positive staphylococci were present in 91 % of samples in the range of 0.70—3.03 log CFU/10 mL. Antibiotic resistant coagulase positive staphylococci were observed only in 32 % of samples, predominantly from rivers. In these samples, chloramphenicol resistance predominated. In three samples of water used for recreational purposes, the limit value for enterococci and E. coli according to Slovak legislation (Decree no. 308/2012 Coll.) for the quality of water in natural swimming pools during bathing season was exceeded.

Bacteriological quality, heavy metal and antibiotic resistance in Sapanca Lake, Turkey

Sapanca Lake is important as a source of drinking water. In this study, we aimed to detect the bacterial quality, the frequency of bacterial antibiotic and heavy metal resistance, and bioindicator bacteria in the water samples taken from Sapanca Lake in the period between 2008 and 2010. The resistance of bacterial isolates to certain antibiotics and heavy metal salts was investigated using disc diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration techniques. Bacterial metabolic reactions were tested using the VITEK 2 Compact 30 micro identification system for identification of cultivable bacteria. Twenty-seven bacteria species belonging to three classes-Gammaproteobacteria, Bacilli, Flavobacteria-were recorded for the first time in Sapanca Lake. The highest indicator bacteria were recorded as 71 ± 3.1 × 10⁴ CFU/100 ml in the summer season. The highest bacterial resistance was recorded as 90.47% against vancomycin in a total of 84 strains. Ampicillin (88.10%) and amoxicillin-clavulanate (64.29%) followed them. The resistance varied between 10.71 and 59.52% against cefuroxime, kanamycin, aztreonam, ceftazidime, cefotaxime, and oxacillin. The highest frequency against heavy metal salts was recorded as 74.19% against NiCl₂. The heavy metal resistance against Cu, Zn, Hg, and Cd detected as 52.38%, 46.42%, 33.33%, and 26.19%, respectively. The results showed that the occurrence of heavy metals and antibiotic sources in Sapanca Lake induced a tolerance in bacteria for the metal salts and antibiotic derivatives tested. The fluctuations in the indicator bacteria and the occurrence of pathogenic bacteria also showed the possibility that the coastal areas of Sapanca Lake had been exposed to contamination due to inadequate sewage treatment.

The Evaluation of Hazards to Man and the Environment during the Composting of Sewage Sludge

Composting is considered an effective treatment option to eliminate or substantially reduce potential hazards relating to the recycling of sewage sludge (SS) on land. The variation of four major types of hazards (heavy metals, instability, pathogenic potential and antibiotic resistance) was studied during laboratory-scale composting of two mixtures of sludge and green waste (1:1 and 1:2 v/v). The heavy metal content of the final compost was governed by the initial contamination of SS, with the bulking agent ratio having practically no effect. The composts would meet the heavy metal standards of the United States of America (USA) and the European Union member states, but would fail the most stringent of them. A higher ratio of bulking agent led to a higher stabilisation rate, nitrogen retention and final degree of stability. A good level of sanitisation was achieved for both mixtures, despite the relatively low temperatures attained in the laboratory system. The antibiotic resistance was limited among the E. coli strains examined, but its occurrence was more frequent among the Enterococcus spp. strains. The type of antibiotics against which resistance was mainly detected indicates that this might not be acquired, thus, not posing a serious epidemiological risk through the land application of the SS derived composts.

Influence of Bizerte city wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) on abundance and antibioresistance of culturable heterotrophic and fecal indicator bacteria of Bizerte Lagoon (Tunisia)

The waste water treatment plant (WWTP) of the city of Bizerte concentrates different types of chemical and biological pollutants in the Bizerte lagoon (Tunisia). Considering four upstream and downstream WWTP discharge stations, seventy nine, culturable bacterial strains were isolated and identified from water and sediment as fecal coliforms, fecal streptococci, pathogenic staphylococci and non-enterobacteriacea. Fecal coliforms were most abundant (2.5 10⁵ bacteria/mg) in sediment of WWTP discharge. Leuconostoc spp (23.1%) and Chryseomonasluteola (23.1%) were the most prevalent culturable fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) isolated at the upstream discharge stations. However, Staphylococcus xylosus (13.9%) was the most prevalent culturable FIB isolated at the WWTP discharge stations. Moreover, high antibioticresistance phenotypes were present in all sampling stations, but especially in WWTP discharge station in both water and sediment. Resistance levels in water and sediment, respectively were amoxicillin (58.8%; 34.8%), penicillin (50%; 31.6%), oxacillin (60%; 33.3%), cefotaxim (55.2%; 39.1%), ceftazidim (66.7%; 50%), gentamycin (42.9%; 38.9%), tobramycin (50%; 25%), vancomycin (33.3; 71.4%), amikacin (66.7%; 0%) and ciprofloxacin (100%; 100%). Interestingly, ß-lactam antibiotic resistant FIB were mostly isolated from water as well as from sediments of upstream and WWTP discharge station. Canonical correspondence analysis CCA correlating antibiotic resistance profile with the abiotic data showed that, in water column, culturable bacterial strains isolated in upstream WWTP discharge stations were interestingly correlated with the resistance to amikacin, oxacillin, cefotaxim, ciprofloxacin and gentamycin, however, in sediment, they were correlated with the resistance to amoxicillin, oxacillin, céfotaxim and vancomycin. Serious ß-lactams and aminoglycosides acquired resistance appeared mainly in fecal streptococci and pathogen staphylococci groups.

Sewage treatment effluents in Delhi: A key contributor of β-lactam resistant bacteria and genes to the environment

Rapid emergence of antibiotic resistance (AR) in developing countries is posing a greater health risk and increasing the global disease burden. Lack of access to safe drinking water, poor sanitation and inadequate sewage treatment facilities in these countries are fueling the problem associated with emergence of AR. Rapid proliferation of AR mediated by treated and untreated discharges from sewage treatment plants (STPs) is a prime public health concern. This study aims to understand the occurrence, fate, and routes of proliferation of carbapenem (KPC) and extended spectrum β-lactam (ESBL) resistant bacteria, and selected resistant genes in the samples collected from different unit operations in 12 STPs in New Delhi over two seasons. Strong correlation observed between faecal coliform levels and KPC (R = 0.95, p = 0.005, n = 60) and ESBL (R = 0.94, p = 0.004, n = 60) resistant bacteria levels indicates possible association of resistant bacteria with faecal matter. Different unit operations in STPs proved inefficient in treating resistant bacteria and genes present in the wastewater. However, inclusion of tertiary treatment (chlorination) unit and anaerobic digester in the present STPs resulted in better removal of AR. Significant correlations between antibiotic resistant genes (ARGs) and integron levels indicates a potential for higher rate of AR proliferation in the environment. Microbial culturing indicated the presence of clinically significant drug-resistant pathogens such as Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas putida, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter cloacae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Klebsiella oxytoca, Acinetobacter baumannii, Shigella dysentery and Aeromonas caviae in the STP effluents. The emergence and spread of resistant bacteria through STP effluents poses exposure risk for the residents of the city.

Microbiological Impact of the Use of Reclaimed Wastewater in Recreational Parks

Reclaimed wastewater for irrigation is an opportunity for recovery of this natural resource. In this study, microbial risk from the use of treated wastewater for irrigation of recreational parks in the city of Chihuahua, evaluating the effect of distribution distance, season, and presence of storage tanks, was analyzed. Escherichia coli, Salmonella, and multidrug-resistant bacteria were recovered from samples of reclaimed water and soils at recreational parks in Chihuahua by the membrane filtration method, using selected agars for microbial growth. Samples were taken at three different seasons. No correlation in the presence of microbial indicators and multidrug-resistant bacteria (p > 0.05) was found between the distance from the wastewater treatment plant to the point of use. Presence of storage tanks in parks showed a significant effect (p < 0.05) with a higher level of E. coli. The highest count in wastewater occurred in summer. We isolated 392 multidrug-resistant bacteria from water and soil; cluster analysis showed that the microorganisms at each location were of different origins. Irrigation with reclaimed wastewater did not have a negative effect on the presence of microbial indicators of the quality of soils in the parks. However, the prevalence of multidrug-resistant bacteria still represents a potential risk factor for human health.

Trends in human fecal carriage of extended-spectrum β-lactamases in the community: toward the globalization of CTX-M

In the last 10 years, extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing enterobacteria (ESBL-E) have become one of the main challenges for antibiotic treatment of enterobacterial infections, largely because of the current CTX-M enzyme pandemic. However, most studies have focused on hospitalized patients, though today it appears that the community is strongly affected as well. We therefore decided to devote our investigation to trends in ESBL-E fecal carriage rates and comprehensively reviewed data from studies conducted on healthy populations in various parts of the world. We show that (i) community ESBL-E fecal carriage, which was unknown before the turn of the millennium, has since increased significantly everywhere, with developing countries being the most affected; (ii) intercontinental travel may have emphasized and globalized the issue; and (iii) CTX-M enzymes, especially CTX-M-15, are the dominant type of ESBL. Altogether, these results suggest that CTX-M carriage is evolving toward a global pandemic but is still insufficiently described. Only a better knowledge of its dynamics and biology will lead to further development of appropriate control measures.

In vivo transfer of plasmid pRAS1 between Aeromonas salmonicida and Aeromonas hydrophila in artificially infected Cyprinus carpio L

This study investigated the possible in vivo transfer of plasmid pRAS1 between Aeromonas salmonicida and A. hydrophila inhabiting two different organs of Cyprinus carpio L. To distinguish transconjugants from naturally occurring antibiotic resistant bacteria, twelve luminescent transposon-tagged A. hydrophila strains using mini Tn5luxCDABEKm2 transposon were generated. In conjugal transfer experiments, fish were conditioned with the donor bacteria and subsequently immersed in water containing the recipient strain. Bacteria were recovered from gills and intestines and isolated by growth on selective plates. Transconjugants were identified by their resistance to the pRAS1 encoded antimicrobials and by light emission. In vivo transfer frequencies ranged between 10(-3) and 10(-6) and were somewhat lower in intestines, compared to gills. Transfer frequencies were also smaller relative to those obtained in vitro. The minimal amount of donor and recipient bacteria needed to yield detectable transconjugants in vivo was 1 x 10(4) CFU mL(-1). Implications of this plasmid transfer in natural settings and its possible consequences to human health are discussed.

Fate of amoxicillin in mixed-culture bioreactors and its effects on microbial growth and resistance to silver ions

This research focused on studying the fate of amoxicillin (AMX) in mixed-culture bioreactors and its effects on bacterial growth and bacterial resistance to silver-ion disinfection. The bioreactors were dosed with a range of AMX (10-70 mg L(-1) d(-1)) mimicking a biological treatment unit of a proposed water recovery system for long-term space missions. Aqueous-phase AMX concentrations in the bioreactors were monitored to characterize the kinetics of selected AMX fate processes. Specific growth rates and silver minimum effective concentrations (MECs) of the bacterial cultures were determined by assessing cell viability using flow cytometry. Hydrolysis, sorption, and biodegradation of AMX followed first-order kinetics with rate constants of 0.078, 0.083, and 0.13 d(-1), respectively. Specific growth rates of the AMX-dosed cultures were suppressed from 7% to 35% in order of increasing AMX dose as compared to the AMX-free control cultures. The AMX-treated cultures had higher silver MECs than the AMX-free control cultures, indicating an enhanced bacterial resistance to silver ions as a result of the AMX exposure. Biosorption experiments revealed that the AMX-treated cultures exhibited exclusion of silver ions from the cells as a potential mechanism for the enhanced resistance. This paper reports for the first time that low levels of AMX (<100 mg L(-1)) could induce bacterial cross-resistance to silver ion in an aqueous system mimicking an active biological system for wastewater treatment.

Antibiotic Resistance of Gram Negatives isolates from loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) in the central Mediterranean Sea

Previous studies on fish and marine mammals support the hypothesis that marine species harbor antibiotic resistance and therefore may serve as reservoirs for antibiotic-resistance genetic determinants. The aim of this study was to assess the resistance to antimicrobial agents of Gram negative strains isolated from loggerhead sea turtles (Carettacaretta). Oral and cloacal swabs from 19 live-stranded loggerhead sea turtles, with hooks fixed into the gut, were analyzed. The antimicrobial resistance of the isolates to 31 antibiotics was assessed using the disk-diffusion method. Conventional biochemical tests identified Citrobacter spp., Proteus spp., Enterobacter spp., Escherichia spp., Providencia spp., Morganella spp., Pantoea spp., Pseudomonas spp. and Shewanella spp. Highest prevalences of resistance was detected to carbenicillin (100%), cephalothin (92.6%), oxytetracycline (81.3%) and amoxicillin (77.8%). The isolates showing resistance to the widest range of antibiotics were identified as Citrobacterfreundii, Proteusvulgaris, Providenciarettgeri and Pseudomonasaeruginosa. In this study, antibiotic resistant bacteria reflect marine contamination by polluted effluents and C.caretta is considered a bioindicator which can be used as a monitor for pollution.

Risk factors for infection with pathogenic and antimicrobial-resistant fecal bacteria in northern elephant seals in California

OBJECTIVES

The goal of this study was to identify potential environmental and demographic factors associated with Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni), Salmonella enterica (Salmonella spp.), and antimicrobial-resistant Escherichia coli (E. coli) infection in northern elephant seals stranded along the California coastline.

METHODS

E. coli, Salmonella spp., and C. jejuni were isolated from rectal swabs from 196 juvenile northern elephant seals, which were found stranded and alive along the California coast and brought to The Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, California, for rehabilitation. Gender, weight, county where the animal stranded, month stranded, coastal human population density, exposure to sewage outfall or freshwater outflow (river or stream), and cumulative precipitation in the previous 24 hours, seven days, 30 days, 90 days, and 180 days were analyzed as potential risk factors for infection.

RESULTS

The odds of C. jejuni and antimicrobial-resistant E. coli were higher in feces of seals stranded at sites with higher levels of freshwater outflow compared with lower levels of freshwater outflow. The odds of Salmonella spp. in feces were 5.4 times greater in seals stranded in locations with lower levels of 30-day cumulative precipitation, along with substantially lower odds of Salmonella shedding for seals stranded in Monterey or Santa Cruz county compared with seals stranded in regions further north or south of this central California location.

CONCLUSIONS

Juvenile northern elephant seals that have entered the water are being colonized by antimicrobial-resistant and pathogenic fecal bacteria that may be acquired from terrestrial sources transmitted via river and surface waters.

Phenotypic and genetic analysis of Enterobacter spp. from a Brazilian oligotrophic freshwater lake

We characterized a population of Enterobacter spp. of the Enterobacter cloacae complex isolated from an oligotrophic lake; most isolates were identified as E. cloacae. Fingerprinting polymerase chain reaction (PCR), along with morphological, biochemical, physiological, and plasmid profiles analyses, including antimicrobial susceptibility testing, were performed on 22 environmental isolates. Misidentification occurred when using the API 20E identification system. Analysis of 16S rDNA sequences confirmed the close relatedness between species of the E. cloacae complex. The tDNA PCR allowed the differentiation and identification of the E. cloacae isolates. Evaluation of genetic diversity by 16S rDNA sequence, tDNA, internal transcribed spacers, and enterobacterial repetitive intergenic concensus profiles revealed nearly identical isolates, although they exhibited different physiological and antimicrobial resistance profiles. Among the Enterobacter isolates, 96% were resistant to at least one antimicrobial; multiple resistance was also found at a high frequency (86%). The antimicrobials against which resistance was found most frequently were beta-lactams, chloramphenicol, and streptomycin. Plasmids were found in 21 of the 22 Enterobacter isolates. This confirms the conception that antibiotic resistance can occur in oligotrophic freshwater lake bacteria, which has important implications for public health.

Antimicrobial-resistant patterns of Escherichia coli and Salmonella strains in the aquatic Lebanese environments

This study is the first to be conducted in Lebanon on the isolation and molecular characterization and the antimicrobial resistance profile of environmental pathogenic bacterial strains. Fifty-seven samples of seawater, sediment, crab, and fresh water were collected during the spring and summer seasons of 2003. The isolation of Escherichia coli and Salmonella using appropriate selective media revealed that 94.7% of the tested samples were contaminated with one or both of the tested bacteria. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was then used to identify the species of both bacteria using various sets of primers. Many pathogenic E. coli isolates were detected by PCR out of which two were identified as O157:H7 E. coli. Similarly, the species of many of the Salmonella isolates was molecularly identified. The confirmed isolates of Salmonella and E. coli were then tested using the disk diffusion method for their susceptibility to four different antimicrobials revealing high rates of antimicrobial resistance.

Antibiotic resistance of bacteria in raw and biologically treated sewage and in groundwater below leaking sewers

More than 750 isolates of faecal coliforms (>200 strains), enterococci (>200 strains) and pseudomonads (>340 strains) from three wastewater treatment plants (WTPs) and from four groundwater wells in the vicinity of leaking sewers were tested for resistance against 14 antibiotics. Most, or at least some, strains of the three bacterial groups, isolated from raw or treated sewage of the three WTPs, were resistant against penicillin G, ampicillin, vancomycin, erythromycin, triple sulfa and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (SXT). Only a few strains of pseudomonads or faecal coliforms were resistant against some of the other tested antibiotics. The antibiotic resistances of pseudomonads, faecal coliforms and enterococci from groundwater varied to a higher extent. In contrast to the faecal coliforms and enterococci, most pseudomonads from all groundwater samples, including those from non-polluted groundwater, were additionally resistant against chloramphenicol and SXT. Pseudomonads from sewage and groundwater had more multiple antibiotic resistances than the faecal coliforms or the enterococci, and many pseudomonads from groundwater were resistant to more antibiotics than those from sewage. The pseudomonads from non-polluted groundwater were the most resistant isolates of all. The few surviving faecal coliforms in groundwater seemed to gain multiple antibiotic resistances, whereas the enterococci lost antibiotic resistances. Pseudomonads, and presumably, other autochthonous soil or groundwater bacteria, such as antibiotic-producing Actinomyces sp., seem to contribute significantly to the gene pool for acquisition of resistances against antibiotics in these environments.

Occurrence and distribution antibiotic resistance of heterotrophic bacteria isolated from a marine beach

Antibiotic resistance of heterotrophic bacteria isolated from a sandy beach in Sopot, at the Southern Baltic Sea coast was determined. The levels of resistance of bacteria to various antibiotics differed considerably. Bacteria inhabiting the middle part of the beach and the dune were most resistant; the least resistant were bacteria isolated from the sea-beach contact zone. Generally, there were no significant differences in antibiotic resistance between pigmented and non-pigmented bacteria. Bacteria isolated from the surface layer of the sand were more resistant to the tested antibiotics than bacteria from the subsurface layers. The majority of bacterial strains were resistant to 3-8 antibiotics. Bacterial resistance to antibiotics was dependent on their chemical structure.

Incidence of antibiotic resistance in coliforms from drinking water and their identification using the Biolog and the API identification systems

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria were common in samples collected from an intermittent water distribution system in Lebanon. Multiply-resistant isolates were also present and most commonly to amoxycillin, cephalexin and sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim. The aminoglycosides (amikacin, gentamicin and kanamycin) were the most effective, with almost all tested strains showing susceptibility to these antimicrobial agents. Both the Biolog GN MicroPlates and the API 20E strips can be used for the identification of coliform bacteria isolated from potable water, but the outcome of the identification should be viewed with caution. 51% of isolates were assigned similar identities by both the Biolog MicroPlates and the API 20E strips. The similarity at the species level was lower (33%) compared to that at the genus level (67%). The identification of Escherichia coli strains, which represented 30% of all tested organisms, showed 95% similarity in the assigned genus and species using both identification schemes.

Antibiotic resistance of gram-negative bacteria in rivers, United States

Bacteria with intrinsic resistance to antibiotics are found in nature. Such organisms may acquire additional resistance genes from bacteria introduced into soil or water, and the resident bacteria may be the reservoir or source of widespread resistant organisms found in many environments. We isolated antibiotic-resistant bacteria in freshwater samples from 16 U.S. rivers at 22 sites and measured the prevalence of organisms resistant to beta-lactam and non-beta-lactam antibiotics. Over 40% of the bacteria resistant to more than one antibiotic had at least one plasmid. Ampicillin resistance genes, as well as other resistance traits, were identified in 70% of the plasmids. The most common resistant organisms belonged to the following genera: Acinetobacter, Alcaligenes, Citrobacter, Enterobacter, Pseudomonas, and Serratia.

Antibiotic resistance in soil and water environments

Seven locations were screened for antibiotic-resistant bacteria using a modified agar dilution technique. Isolates resistant to high levels of antibiotics were screened for r plasmids. Low-level resistance (25 micro g x ml(-1)) was widespread for ampicillin, penicillin, tetracycline, vancomycin and streptomycin but not for kanamycin. Resistant populations dropped sharply at high antibiotic levels, suggesting that intrinsic non-emergent mechanisms were responsible for the multiple drug resistance exhibited at low doses. Dairy farm manure contained significantly (P < 0.01) more (%) resistant bacteria than the other sites. Bacteria isolated from a dairy water canal, a lake by a hospital and a residential garden (fertilized by farm manure) displayed resistance frequencies of 77, 75 and 70%, respectively. Incidence of tetracycline resistance was most prevalent at 47-89% of total bacteria. Out of 200 representative isolates analyzed, Pseudomonas, Enterococcus-like bacteria, Enterobacter and Burkholderia species constituted the dominant reservoirs of resistance at high drug levels (50-170 micro g x ml(-1)). Plasmids were detected in only 29% (58) of these bacteria with tetracycline resistance accounting for 65% of the plasmid pool. Overall, resistance trends correlated to the abundance and type of bacterial species present in the habitat. Environmental reservoirs of resistance include opportunistic pathogens and constitute some public health concern.

Antibiotic resistance patterns of coliforms isolated from six protected wetlands in the southeast of Spain

Coliforms and thermotolerant coliforms were isolated from six protected lakes in the Antequera area of Spain in order to assess the sanitary quality of these wetlands. The thermotolerant coliform group consisted of several bacterial genera with a wide spectrum of antibiotic resistance. Resistance among Escherichia coli strains was correlated with the origin of the sample and three homogeneous groups of wetlands were distinguished. One of them, which corresponded to wetlands where faecal indicators were indigenous, exhibited no correlation between these bacteria and faecal pollution. Non-coli strains showed a similar range of antibiotic susceptibility for this group. In the other two groups a faecal pollution was detected and antibiotic resistance for E. coli strains established the origin of pollution.

Comparison of the antimicrobial tolerance of oxytetracycline-resistant heterotrophic bacteria isolated from hospital sewage and freshwater fishfarm water in Belgium

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between antimicrobial tolerance and taxonomic diversity among the culturable oxytetracycline-resistant (Ot(r)) heterotrophic bacterial population in two Belgian aquatic sites receiving wastewater either from human medicine or from aquaculture. The study of Ot(r) heterotrophs and mesophilic Aeromonas spp. allowed comparison of tolerance data at the intergenus as well as at the intragenus level. In total, 354 independently obtained Ot(r) isolates were subjected to antimicrobial tolerance testing and identified by GLC analysis of their cellular fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs), by API 20E profiling and/or by Fluorescent Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (FAFLP) DNA fingerprinting. In general, Ot(r) hospital heterotrophs displayed a higher frequency (84%) of ampicillin (Amp) tolerance compared to the Ot(r) heterotrophs from the freshwater fishfarm site (22%). FAME results indicated that this effect was linked to the predominance of intrinsically ampicillin-resistant Ot(r) Aeromonas strains over representatives of Acinetobacter and Escherichia coli within the hospital strain set. Among the Ot(r) mesophilic Aeromonas strain set, the global tolerance profiles of the two sites only differed in a higher number of kanamycin (Kan) -tolerant strains (43%) for hospital aeromonads in comparison with the fishfarm aeromonads (8%). To some extent, this finding was correlated with the specific presence of Aeromonas caviae DNA hybridisation group (HG) 4. Collectively, these results suggest that the profiles for Amp and Kan tolerance observed in both sites arose from taxonomic differences in the culturable Ot(r) bacterial population at the generic or subgeneric level. In addition, our identification data also revealed that Enterobacter sp., Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, and A. veronii biovar sobria HG8 may be considered potential indicator organisms to assess microbial tolerance in various compartments of the aquatic environment.

Multiantibiotic resistance of gram-negative bacteria isolated from drinking water samples in southwest Greece

In this study we monitored the sensitivity of 239 gram-negative bacteria (of fecal and non-fecal origin), isolated from the old drinking water distribution network of Patras in southwestern Greece, to 20 antibiotic agents. Two methods were used to find the multiresistant bacteria (bacteria resistant to two or more antibiotics): the diffusion disk method and a serial dilution method. The gram-negative bacteria tested were: Enterobacteriaceae (62), Pseudomonas (145), Vibrionaceae (24), Chromobacter (3), Acinetobacter (2) and others (4). The highest levels of antibiotic resistance were obtained for cephalothin (86.7%), ampicillin (77.5%) and carbenicillin (71%) followed by cefoxitin (55.4%) and cefuroxime (51.2%). Intermediate resistance levels were found for ticarcillin (31.3%), ceftizoxime (31.2%), chloramphenicol (30.3%), and cefotetan (25.2%). Low resistance levels were obtained for cefotaxime (17.9%), sulfisoxazole (15.2%), ceftriaxone (12.5%), tetracycline (11.9%), trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (7.4%) and piperacillin (2.4%). Overall 91.3% of the gram-negative bacteria isolated from drinking water were multiresistant. No resistant strains were found to quinolones, aminoglycosides, imipenem, aztreonam, ceftazidime or cefoperazone. The high antibiotic resistance rate of the isolated microorganisms from the Patras drinking water supply is discussed.

Escherichia coli in settled-dust and air samples collected in residential environments in Mexico City

Escherichia coli, an important indicator of the presence of fecal material, was isolated from indoor and outdoor environments in Mexico City. The heterogeneity of E. coli was represented by 89 serotypes, most of them coming from settled-dust indoor samples; 21% of them presented antibiotic multiresistance. The numbers of plasmids were higher among the antibiotic-resistant strains. The results of this study suggest that intestinal infections produced by environmental strains could be of more epidemiological impact than previously thought.

Association of multiple-antibiotic-resistance profiles with point and nonpoint sources of Escherichia coli in Apalachicola Bay

A total of 765 Escherichia coli isolates from point and nonpoint sources were collected from the Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve, and their multiple-antibiotic-resistance (MAR) profiles were determined with 10 antibiotics. E. coli isolates from point sources showed significantly greater resistance (P < 0.05) to antibiotics and higher MAR indices than isolates from nonpoint sources. Specifically, 65 different resistance patterns were observed among point source isolates, compared to 32 among nonpoint source isolates. Examples of this contrast in MAR profiles included percentages of isolates with resistance to chlortetracycline-sulfathiazole of 33.7% and to chlortetracycline-penicillin G-sulfathiazole of 14.5% for point source isolates versus 15.4 and 1.7%, respectively, for nonpoint source isolates. MAR profile homology, based on coefficient similarity, showed that isolates from point sources were markedly more diverse than isolates from nonpoint sources. Seven clusters were observed among point source isolates, with a coefficient value of approximately 1.8. In contrast, only four clusters were observed among nonpoint source isolates. Covariance matrices of data displayed six very distinct foci representing nonpoint source E. coli isolates. Importantly, E. coli isolates obtained directly from human and animal feces also clustered among point and nonpoint sources, respectively. We conclude that E. coli MAR profiles were associated with point and nonpoint sources of pollution within Apalachicola Bay and that this method may be useful in facilitating management of other estuaries.

Drug resistant bacteria in non carbonated mineral waters

The presence of antibiotic resistant bacteria was revealed among bacteria isolated from non carbonated mineral waters bottled in plastic (PVC) and in glass containers. Heterotrophic plate count values ranged between < 10 and 4.3 x 10(3) and between < 10 and 1.2 x 10(4) colony forming units/ml for the waters bottled in PVC and glass, respectively. The greatest resistance to a single antibiotic, 39.1% of 320 isolates from mineral waters, was found for nalidixic acid. Resistance to the other antibiotics was as follows: ampicillin (26.2%), bacitracin (19.7%), cotrimoxazole (18.7%), streptomycin (15.0%), tetracycline (14.4%), gentamycin (11.6%), chloramphenicol and rifampin (9.7%). The strains resistant to two or more antibiotics (multiple antibiotic resistant, MAR) provided 51% of the total isolates. Identification of 127 MAR strains showed that in the mineral waters gram-positive cocci dominated. The second, third and fourth group of identified MAR phenotypes were, in order to importance, gram-negative non-fermentative rods, gram-positive rods and gram-negative fermentative rods. The importance of the antibiotic resistant bacteria in mineral water is discussed.

Effect of growth phase and parental cell survival in river water on plasmid transfer between Escherichia coli strains

We evaluated the transfer to and from Escherichia coli of endogenously isolated plasmid material from the River Butrón during the growth of three donor strains and two recipient strains as well as after the survival of these parental cells in river water. Transfer frequency varied greatly during the growth of donor cells, with minimum values in the exponential phase; frequency remained constant, however, during the growth of recipient strains. After survival in river water, donor cells lost their ability for plasmid transfer before any other physiological variations in the cells caused by environmental stress were detected. Under the same conditions and during equal periods, however, no variation in the ability of recipient cells to receive and express plasmid material was observed.

Conjugal transfer of R plasmids to and from Enterobacteriaceae isolated from sewage

The potential of the transfer of natural plasmids between sewage strains has been studied. In vitro transfer was conducted at 37 degrees C in tryptone soya broth and sterile raw sewage as mating media. In situ transfer was carried out in sterile raw sewage within membrane diffusion chambers at 10.6 degrees C. When the recipient was a laboratory strain of Escherichia coli K-12, the in situ frequency values were significantly lower (P less than 0.001) than those obtained in vitro for the same mating pair. When the laboratory recipient was replaced with recipients from the same sewage source, frequency values decreased progressively from the optimum conditions to the most adverse. However, in situ frequency values were higher than those for the same donors mated with a laboratory recipient.

Antibiotic resistance and production of inhibitory substances among bacterial strains isolated from the oral cavities of BALB/c mice

In the oral cavities of BALB/c mice, microbial population levels are regulated by multifactorial processes. Factors include the production of inhibitory substances and the exchange of genetic material. In this work, 371 isolates from different sites (saliva, tongue, teeth, and mucosa) of the oral cavities of BALB/c mice were screened for resistance to antibiotics and antimicrobial activity. Antibiotic-resistant strains represented 25% of the total flora. Among the predominant species, all the S. faecalis isolates showed multiresistance, and 23% of the Lactobacillus murinus isolates and 15% of the Staphylococcus aureus were resistant to at least one antibiotic. Resistance to aminoglycosides (neomycin, streptomycin, kanamycin, and gentamicin) was most frequently encountered. In S. faecalis, high levels of resistance were recorded to neomycin and streptomycin but not to gentamicin or kanamycin. Macrolides (M), lincosamides (L), streptogramin B (S), tetracycline (Tc), and chloramphenicol (Cm) resistance was also present in multiresistance patterns, especially among S. faecalis isolates. Hemolytic (Hly+) streptococci were less resistant to MLS, Tc, and Cm than were non-hemolytic (Hly-) isolates. Resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics was detected only among staphylococci and with a low prevalence (4%). The frequencies of strains producing antimicrobial substances against the indicator strains (S. mutans LG-1, S. sanguis Ny 101, and A. viscosus Ny 1) were high for L. murinus (76%) and S. faecalis (57% for Hly- and 90% for Hly+), but low for S. aureus (7%). These results indicate that the indigenous oral flora could interfere with colonization by allochthonous micro-organisms and that resistance patterns should be taken into account for the elimination of the oral indigenous flora by antibiotic treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Occurrence of multiple antibiotic resistance and R-plasmids in gram-negative bacteria isolated from faecally contaminated fresh-water streams in Hong Kong

The bacterial populations of six freshwater streams in populated areas of the Hong Kong New Territories were studied. There is considerable faecal contamination of these streams, with coliform counts as high as 10(5) c.f.u./ml and the contaminating organisms show a high prevalence of antibiotic resistance and multiple resistance. With direct plating of water samples onto antibiotic-containing media, an average of 49% of the gram-negative bacteria were ampicillin-resistant, 3% chloramphenicol-resistant and 1% gentamicin-resistant. At individual sites resistance to these drugs was as high as 98%, 8% and 3% respectively. More than 70% of strains were resistant to two or more antibiotics, 29% to five or more and 2% to eight or more. A total of 98 patterns of antibiotic resistance were detected with no one pattern predominating. Twenty-eight gram-negative bacterial species were identified as stream contaminants. Escherichia coli was the commonest bacterial species isolated and other frequent isolates were Enterobacter sp., Klebsiella sp. and Citrobacter sp., but no enteric pathogens were detected. The greatest prevalence of resistance and multiple resistance was associated with the heaviest contamination by E. coli. Analysis of selected stream isolates revealed multiple plasmid bands arranged in many different patterns, but multiple antibiotic resistances were shown to be commonly mediated by single transferable plasmids. Faecally-contaminated freshwater streams in Hong Kong may be reservoirs of antibiotic resistance plasmids for clinically-important bacteria.

Factors affecting the measurement of antibiotic resistance in bacteria isolated from lake water

It is more difficult to obtain a reliable assessment of antibiotic resistance in populations of aquatic bacteria than in those populations which are well characterized (e.g. bacteria of medical and veterinary significance). Factors which influence the results include the bacterial taxa involved, their site of origin and the methods and media used to isolate and subculture the bacteria, and to perform the sensitivity tests. Examples of these effects are provided. The resistance profiles obtained with populations of aquatic pseudomonads depend on the species composition of the population. Resistance patterns in aquatic bacteria varied with the site from which they were isolated; a higher incidence of resistance was recorded along shorelines and in sheltered bays than in the open water. The inclusion of antibiotics in the media employed for primary isolation increased the number of individual and multiple resistances recorded. A similar effect was observed with increased inoculum size in the sensitivity disc method but this could be reversed by raising the incubation temperature. The medium used to conduct the test also affected the results and many aquatic bacteria failed to grow on media such as Iso-Sensitest Agar. It is recommended that the sensitivity disc method is adopted for aquatic bacteria because it permits interpretation of a wider range of response. Comparison of the incidence of antibiotic resistance in different habitats will remain meaningless, however, until comprehensive methods for the identification of bacteria are developed and the techniques used for sensitivity testing are standardized.

Antibiotic resistant bacteria in Windermere and two remote upland tarns in the English Lake District

The incidence of antibiotic resistance was determined in over 2000 bacteria which were divided into the following groups: faecal streptococci, coliforms (excluding Escherichia coli), E. coli, Pseudomonas spp. and aquatic bacteria (i.e. bacteria predominant in the lake water which were excluded from the previous four categories). The isolates were obtained from the water of Windermere (English Lake District) and from a sewage effluent which entered the lake. With the exception of the faecal streptococci, the incidence of antibiotic resistance was higher in the bacteria isolated from the lake water than in those from the effluent, and ranked according to groups Pseudomonas spp. greater than E. coli greater than aquatic bacteria greater than coliforms greater than faecal streptococci. The highest incidence of multiple resistance was found among the pseudomonads. When corrected for the relative size of each population the pool of antibiotic resistance in the aquatic bacteria was by far the largest. The incidence of antibiotic resistance in aquatic bacteria isolated from Windermere was, however, lower than in those isolated from two remote upland tarns. This finding may have been due to differences in the species composition of the three sites except that the same results were obtained when only fluorescent pseudomonads were tested. The upland tarns were not totally isolated from man and other animals but did not receive any sewage or other effluents and therefore the results were surprising. Possible explanations include a lack of susceptibility in aquatic bacteria and increased resistance associated with growth in nutrient poor environments.

Habitat association of Klebsiella species

The genus Klebsiella is seemingly ubiquitous in terms of its habitat associations. Klebsiella is a common opportunistic pathogen for humans and other animals, as well as being resident or transient flora (particularly in the gastrointestinal tract). Other habitats include sewage, drinking water, soils, surface waters, industrial effluents, and vegetation. Until recently, almost all these Klebsiella have been identified as one species, ie, K. pneumoniae. However, phenotypic and genotypic studies have shown that "K. pneumoniae" actually consists of at least four species, all with distinct characteristics and habitats. General habitat associations of Klebsiella species are as follows: K. pneumoniae--humans, animals, sewage, and polluted waters and soils; K. oxytoca--frequent association with most habitats; K. terrigena--unpolluted surface waters and soils, drinking water, and vegetation; K. planticola--sewage, polluted surface waters, soils, and vegetation; and K. ozaenae/K. rhinoscleromatis--infrequently detected (primarily with humans).

Survey of drug and phage resistance and colicin and hemolysin production among coliforms isolated in the Ivory Coast

Analysis of 178 strains isolated as total and fecal coliforms in the Ivory Coast revealed that (i) hemolytic activity was scarce (0.6%) among this bacterial population; (ii) the most prevalent colicins detected were, in decreasing order, E, I, A, and G; (iii) the frequency of coliphage and drug resistance was similar to that observed in other countries, except for those of drug-resistant strains in animal feces, which were lower than in countries where animals are antibiotic fed; and (iv) one of the drug resistance plasmids seemed to possess a restriction-modification system and another seemed to code for capsular material.

R-plasmid transfer in Salmonella spp. isolated from wastewater and sewage-contaminated surface waters

A total of 865 Salmonella isolates from wastewaters and sewage-contaminated natural waters were tested for antimicrobial resistance by using NR10 medium and incubation at 43 degrees C. Of the strains, 12.7% were resistant to one or more of the compounds tested, and 30% transferred resistance to an Escherichia coli recipient. The highest minimal inhibitory concentrations were ca. 1,000 micrograms/ml. Transfer frequencies ranged from 10(-3) to 10(-7).