Antibacterial Effect of Traditional Nepalese Drinking Water Copper Pot Against Clinically Isolated Multi Drug Resistant Escherichia coli

Abstract

Microbiological contamination of drinking water is still a major issue in developing and under developing countries. Until it was safe to drink, water was typically stored in a variety of metal pots. Copper was discovered to be far more effective than the other metals. Ayurveda also recommends copper pots for drinking water. Therefore, the goal of this research is to see how copper affects numerous multi drug-resistant Escherichia coli clinical isolates. A total of 40 multi drug-resistant Escherichia coli were identified from various clinical specimens. For different periods of time, deionized water was put on a household copper pot having a capacity of 2 liters and a surface area of 860cm2 (2, 6, 12, 18, and 24 hours). Atomic absorption spectroscopy was used to measure the amount of copper leached. Luria Bertani broth was prepared using water stored in copper pot at different time interval. Diluted bacterial suspension was spreaded on Mac-Conkey agar plate surface for viable count. Copper leached from 24hour storage water was found to successfully suppress bacterial growth within the safety limit, followed by shorter time intervals. To combat multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli, this study recommends drinking water from a copper pot.