Abstract
The aim of the present study was to understand the seasonal occurrence and diversity of species of meropenem-resistant bacteria in the Gumuncheon river receiving effluents from a pharmaceutical industry in Seoul, Korea.Water samples were collected from the Gumuncheon river in Kyoung-gi province during winter (January), spring (April), summer (August), and fall (November) of 2018. Water samples were plated in triplicate on tryptic soy agar plates containing 16 mg/L meropenem. Meropenem-resistant bacteria were isolated and genetically identified using 16S rRNA analysis. The predominant bacterial genera identified were Elizabethkingia, Pseudomonas, Chryseobacterium and Stenotrophomonas. Among these; Pseudomonas species Pseudomonas chengduensis and Pseudomonas taiwanesis showed resistance against 15 antibiotics. To prevent the occurrence and spread of meropenem-resistant bacteria in rivers, it is necessary to implement methods that can simultaneously kill multi-drug resistant bacteria and remove antibioticsfrom pharmaceutical industry effluent discharge. Further, to stop the spread of meropenem-resistant bacteria in environment, effluent discharge water should be stringently assessed for their risk of being an environmental hazard. Key words: Carbapenem, Meropenem, Multi-drug resistant, Elizabethkingia, Pseudomonas, Chryseobacterium, Stenotrophomonas.
Highlights
Carbapenem antibiotics, such as meropenem, imipenem, and doripenem, are the last-line of antibiotics used on bacteria resistant to β-lactam antibiotics
In vitro experiments have shown that carbapenem antibiotics have broader antibacterial activities than combinations of penicillin, cephalosporin, and β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitors (Bassetti et al, 2009)
Carbapenem antibiotics pass through the periplasmic space and subsequently inhibit peptide cross-linking by permanent acylation of penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs)
Summary
Carbapenem antibiotics, such as meropenem, imipenem, and doripenem, are the last-line of antibiotics used on bacteria resistant to β-lactam antibiotics. In vitro experiments have shown that carbapenem antibiotics have broader antibacterial activities than combinations of penicillin, cephalosporin, and β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitors (Bassetti et al, 2009). Carbapenem antibiotics pass through the periplasmic space and subsequently inhibit peptide cross-linking by permanent acylation of penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs). PBPs facilitate the synthesis of peptidoglycans present in the bacterial cell wall (Hashizume et al, 1984). Inhibition of PBPs causes weakening of peptidoglycans, thereby resulting in cell rupture due to osmotic pressure (Van Dam et al, 2009)
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