PIN16 - Potential Epidemics of Drugs Resistant Bacteria in Poverty Stricken Countries Like Pakistan

Abstract

Antibiotics are the only promising drugs used to control bacterial diseases but their inappropriate use has rendered bacteria resistant. Bacteria have been found resistant to all classes of antibiotics including the last line antibiotics carbapenems. These multidrug resistant bacteria are a constant threat to human health. The aim of this study was to check for pathogenic contaminants in drinking water samples across Pakistan check their drug resistant level too. Drinking water samples were collected from different regions across Pakistan and microorganisms present in these samples were identified. Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion tests were used to check the pattern of antibiotic resistance. Interpretation was done according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) recommendations. Almost all of the water samples collected were contaminated with bacteria or protozoans. All of the contaminated samples had Escherichia coli, while many of them had Cryptosporidium spp and Giardia spp. Escherichia coli isolates were found resistant to many groups of antibiotics including carbapenems (17%). Antibiotics were not helpful against Cryptosporidium and Giardia spp. Because of the unhygienic living style and poverty, the threat of these resistant bacteria is increasing, and since carbapenems are drugs of the last resort such a high prevalence of resistant bacteria in drinking water is an alarming threat and holds the potential of future outbreaks.