Abstract
BackgroundGeographical information systems (GIS) can play a significant role in understanding the distribution and clustering of drug resistant pathogens. Currently, geospatial analysis using GIS is not widely applied to mapping antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the environment for development of its mitigation strategies. MethodsWe conducted an observational community prevalence study in rural households, poultry farms and urban markets in Bangladesh. A total of 240 aquatic samples from upstream to downstream surrounding the study settings (drinking water source, waste water and surface water, e.g. rivers and ponds) were collected in summer and winter. Spatial mapping was done (using ArcGIS software) to demonstrate the concentrations of extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing (ESBL) E. coli count in the aquatic system of each setting. Each data point represents an environmental sample and the data size indicates the concentration of log10 ESBL E. coli. ResultsWe identified ESBL E. coli in all types of environmental samples. Wastewater had the highest prevalence of ESBL E. coli ranging from 90% in rural households to 98% in urban food markets. River water samples had the next highest prevalence (85% positive) followed by pond water (76% positive in rural households and 68% in farms) respectively. Carbapenem-resistant E. coli were less common than ESBL E. coli but plentiful (30%) in waste water samples adjacent to urban markets. Both ESBL E. coli and Carbapenem-resistant E. coli did not vary by season in waste water and pond water, but Carbapenem resistant E.coli were significantly higher in the summer for river water (50% vs 15% , p<0.05).ConclusionOur current study is the first attempt to use spatial mapping in low income settings for assessing the extent of environmental contamination with antibiotic resistant bacteria. Utilization of GIS with microbiological data might be an important monitoring tool for both surveillance and policy context of AMR.
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