Antibiotic sensitivity of E. coli and Salmonella isolated from different water sources in Kashmir, India

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to determine the prevalence of Salmonella and Escherichia coli, the serotypes involved and the antibiogram of the various isolates obtained from different sources of water supply (streams, Dal Lake, tube wells and community supply water) in Kashmir, India, during the years 2009–2010. A total of 100 samples, 25 from each source, were taken for the present study. All samples were evaluated for the presence of Salmonella and E. coli, stereotyped and tested for antimicrobial susceptibility. A total of 60 isolates of E. coli and 12 isolates of Salmonella were obtained. The antimicrobial susceptibilities of different isolates of E. coli and Salmonella from different water sources were examined by disc diffusion method. The high in vitro sensitivity was shown by 100 % of E. coli isolates for ciprofloxacin, 95 % for amoxycillin/clavulanic acid, 93.33 % for each of cephotaxime and amikacin and 91.67 % for lavofloxacin and gentamicin. The isolates registered an intermediate response to rifampicin (85.00 %), lomefloxacin (83.33 %) and norfloxacin (83.33 %) and showed resistance to erythromycin (98.33 %). The isolates of Salmonella were 100 % sensitive for gentamicin, 91.67 % for each of cefixime, ciprofloxacin, amikacin and lavofloxacin; 83.33 % for each of cephotaxime and amoxycillin/clavulanic acid and showed resistance to erythromycin (100 %), nalidixic acid (100 %) and rifampicin (91.67 %). The isolates, however, showed an intermediate resistance to lomefloxacin (83.34 %) and norfloxacin (66.67). The high incidence of multi-drug-resistant strains of E. coli and Salmonella is due to injudicious use of antibiotics and exchange of antibiotic resistance among bacterial populations.