Abstract
Dumpsites and garbage collection areas can act as reservoirs of highly resistant bacterial strains and facilitate the dissemination of Multidrug resistant strains to those living and work on or near the dumpsites and garbage collection areas. The objective of this study was to determine the potential of garbage collection areas and dumpsites in different parts of Nairobi as possible sources of resistant strains using E. coli and Klebsiella as indicator species. The study design was a cross-sectional survey. Sample collection was carried out at different days in seventeen different areas. A total of 126 samples were collected during the sampling period. The samples were then transported to the laboratory for analysis. The samples were cultured on MacConkey agar. Gram staining was done on discrete isolates based on colony characteristics. Biochemical tests were performed on colonies from primary cultures for final identification of the isolates. Antimicrobial disc susceptibility tests and pathogenicity tests were also carried out on the indicator isolates. A total of 121 E. coli and 165 Klebsiella were isolated from all the sampled sites. The highest bacterial burden was recorded from Muthurwa estate dumpsite, with a mean viable count of 8.2 × 1010 cfu/gm while the least was from Dandora dumpsite with a mean count of 1.1 × 1011 cfu/gm. Overall, gentamicin was the most effective antibacterial agent on Klebsiella and meropenem was the most effective on both E. coli and Klebsiella strains. The isolates showed high resistance to ampicillin, streptomycin, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. It is concluded that municipal waste dumpsites and garbage collection areas bear heavy burdens of potentially resistant bacteria which may constitute major public health hazards, not only to the immediate communities but also to the families of such site workers.
Highlights
The misuse of antimicrobial agents has been identified as one of the major forces resulting in the rapid spread of resistance, but the nature of this relationship is complex
Poor waste disposal and recycling practices are still rampant across the dumpsites and garbage collection areas
There was a high occurrence of Klebsiella and E. coli across the dumpsites and garbage collection areas indicating environmental contamination
Summary
The misuse of antimicrobial agents has been identified as one of the major forces resulting in the rapid spread of resistance, but the nature of this relationship is complex. Products that are used in disinfection and sterilization, as well as heavy metals used in industries and households along with antibiotics, creating selective pressure in the environment that lead to mutations in microorganisms [2]. Indiscriminate waste dumping enhances the breeding of microorganisms that pose a danger to the human population. Waste degradation is enhanced by the presence of soil microorganisms that create a conducive environment for the resistant bacteria e.g. Salmonella species and E. coli to thrive in becoming potential human pathogens and may cause severe health hazards [4]. The presence of rodents in these dumpsites and garbage collection areas enhance the spread of antimicrobial resistant bacteria to other areas. Previous studies have focused on the identification of these disease vectors on dumpsites and have reported cockroach, housefly, black garbage fly, and stable fly to be the most prevalent disease vectors on the dumpsites and garbage collection areas [5] [6]
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