Species and Genera of Enterobacteriaceae in River Neckar and after River Bank Filtration and Their Resistance Patterns to Antibiotics and Heavy Metal Salts

Abstract

Water samples of 1000 ml volume derived from river Neckar, different observation wells and a steady run well used for drinking water production were examined on Enterobacteriaceae by enrichment in a glucose-peptone-medium. The isolated strains were tested on their susceptibilities to mercury, cadmium, copper, zinc, chrome and cobalt salts and twelve antibiotics, respectively. No difference in susceptibilities to heavy metal salts was to be found within the different observation wells, river Neckar and the steady run well. The frequencies of found resistances to antibiotics were within the range of the values expected on the basis of data derived in the scope of examinations of clinically isolated Enterobacteriaceae strains. Increasing distance from river Neckar, linked with increasing detention periods in the aquifer, had no influence on the found resistance frequencies.