Water‐related (borne) diseases are categorized into four different classes: waterborne, water‐washed, water‐based, and water‐related insect vectors. The Pacific Institute Research Report (http://www.pacinst.org/) speculates that by 2020 a global mortality rate of 34‐76 million people will be observed due to water related diseases. One of the main sources for water in Southwest Texas is the Rio Grande River which receives its water influx from Las Vacas, Rio Conchos, Rio Rodrigo, and Rio Salado tributaries from Mexico. The Rio Grande River flows through the southwest border and is stored in the Amistad Reservoir located in Del Rio, Texas. The “Texas Clean Rivers Program” a collaborative program operated by The Amistad Reservoir ‐ International Boundary and Water Commission, US section(USIBWC) ‐ The Rio Grande Basin and The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality(TCEQ) monitor the microbial and water quality issues in Texas. As per the 2012 Basin Highlights Report for the Rio Grande Basin in Texas show that there were between 14,200 colonies/100 ml and 3,800,000 colony forming units/100ml of the fecal coli form bacteria in the water samples. High levels of Biological Oxygen Demand, and Chemical Oxygen Demand were also detected in the water samples tested in the urban areas of Del Rio, Eagle Pass and Laredo. Taken together the severity of the contamination, BOD and COD increases the mutagenic potential in the microbial pathogens (bacteria) to acquire antibiotic resistance through known and unknown mechanisms.
Grant Funding Source: PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPEMENT FUNDS ‐
An effort has been made to explore the implementation of a prescription medicine (Antibiotics) recycling program in Texas. According to The Office of the Regional Medical Director, Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS) Region 8 at present there are no programs for recycling the unused prescription medications, Antibiotics in particular in existence in the State of Texas. http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/contact.shtm. Pertaining to the infectious diseases and antibiotic resistance as per the information available and Region 8 Medical director, VISA/VRSA Vancomycin‐Intermediate/Resistant Stapylococcus aureus are the only diseases that are reportable to the TDSHS. Of the 609 infections related to Staphylococcus aureus isolated reports through TxHSN in 2012, 55% tested sensitive to oxacillin/methicillin. NDM‐1, which stands for New Delhi metallo‐beta‐lactamase 1 has been considered to become a global public health problem, but is not detected in Texas. Though 4% of US hospitals had at least one patient with a CRE (carbapenem‐resistant Enterobacteriaceae) infection during the first half of 2012, none were reported in Texas. In 2011, 1,325 cases of tuberculosis (TB) were reported in Texas however, the total number of the antibiotic resistant form of TB among this population is not known. The implications of the discrepancy in the Annual Federal Prescription Drug retake program and lack of recycling of the prescription medicines (Antibiotics) in the evolution of antibiotic resistance shall be presented in the EB2014.
Grant Funding Source: Professional Development Funds from SWTJC, Eagle Pass, Texas
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