Antibiotic Resistance Phenotypes among Escherichia coli Isolated from Sachet and Pipe-Borne Water from Selected Local Government Areas of Kaduna State, Nigeria

Abstract

The presence of coliform bacteria such as Escherichia coli (E. coli) in water used for drinking is of great public health concern due to the risk it poses to consumers. This risk is exacerbated when the bacteria are resistant to commonly used antibiotics. This study aimed at determining the antibiotic resistant phenotypes among E. coli isolated from sachet water (Pure water) and municipal pipe-borne water in selected local government areas of Kaduna state, Nigeria. A total of 105 water samples (69 sachet water and 36 municipal pipe-borne water) were subjected to bacterial isolation following standard methods and the isolated E. coli were subjected to antibiotic susceptibility testing to ten (10) commonly used antibiotics. The isolation rates of the organism were 14.4% and 22.9% in sachet and pipe-borne water respectively. The isolates were all (100%) susceptible to gentamicin, and also showed high susceptibility to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (83.3%), chloramphenicol (94.5%), cefotaxime (94.5%) and sulphamethoxazole - trimethoprim (100%). On the other hand, 9 isolates (50%) showed various resistance patterns with 3 isolates being resistant to up to seven (7) antibiotics, with resistance patterns TE, NA, C, CIP, CTX, AMP, AML and TE, NA, AMC, SXT, CIP, AMP, AML. Eight out of the 9 resistant isolates showed resistance to Nalidixic acid and 7 showed resistance to Tetracycline. These results indicate that drinking water in the study area is a source of antibiotic resistance. It is obvious that more attention needs to be focused on ensuring the safety and potability of drinking water in the study area.