The Prevalence of Antibiotic Resistant Diarrhogenic Bacterial Species in Surface Waters, South Eastern Nigeria

Abstract

BACKGROUND: This study assessed the bacteriological qualitiesof surface waters in Afikpo, between April and September 2016.METHODS: Surface water samples were collected from threestreams for bacteriological analysis. Bacteria species were isolatedusing standard microbiological and biochemical techniques.Antibiotic susceptibility study was carried out using Kirby Bauerdisc diffusion method.RESULTS: The result of the mean heterotrophic bacteria countfrom the streams showed that Okpu stream had 209.5CFU/100 mL,Ohino Ngodo 162.5 CFU/100mL, and Ngwogo stream 162.0CFU/100mL respectively. Out of the twenty-six (26) isolatesobtained, E. coli and Staphylococcus species had the highestpercentage occurrence (23.1%) respectively. Klebsiella, Shigellaand Enterobacter sp had (11.5%) each, Pseudomonas spp (7.7%),while Salmonella and Streptococcus sp had the least percentageoccurrence of (3.8%). The antibiotic susceptibility studies showedthat large proportions of isolates were resistant to sulphamethaxoid(SUL), cephalothin (CEP), tetracycline (TET), penicillin G (PEN),oxytetracycline (OXY), cefotaxime (CEF), nalidixic acid (NAL)and cefuroxime sodium (CXM). The most effective antibiotic wasazithromycin followed by imipenem.CONCLUSION: The presence of these multi-drug resistant strainsin water samples could facilitate transmission of antibioticresistance. This emphasizes the need for proper treatment of waterin the study area.KEYWORDS: Antibiotic resistance, Bacteria, Afikpo, Surfacewaters