Occurrence of Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria in Environmental Wastes

Abstract

Microbial resistance to antibiotics has been emerging in environmental isolates. This study was carried out from October 2008 to January 2009 to describe the antibiotic susceptibility pattern of the bacteria isolated from sewage sludge, biowaste and bioslurry samples. A total of 49 identified isolates were taken for antibiotic susceptibility test. Amikacin and Gentamicin were the effective antibiotics for the Gram negative bacteria, comparatively Escherichia coli was the most sensitive. Similarly, all isolates of Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus spp. were sensitive to Tetracycline and Erythromycin respectively and none of these isolates were resistant to Vancomycin. Out of 13 S. aureus, five (38.5%) were Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The multidrug resistant (MDR) isolates accounted for 46.9%, the highest percentage of MDR isolates was seen in Pseudomonas aeruginosa (9/12, 75.0%). The proper management of multidrug resistant bacteria present in waste is suggestive for environmental and public health.

Key words: Multidrug resistant bacteria, Bio-waste, Sewage sludge, Bioslurry

DOI: 10.3126/on.v7i1.2563

Our Nature (2009) 7:151-157