Detection of multiple antibiotic-resistant bacteria from the hospital and non-hospital wastewater sources of a small town in Noakhali, Bangladesh

Abstract

Multiple antibiotic-resistant (MAR) bacteria present in wastewater cause life-threatening diseases. Using water from unprotected sources where the possibility of entering MAR bacteria from wastewater is high poses a danger to public health. To determine the distribution of MAR bacteria in wastewater, we collected samples from six sites of Maijdee, a small town in the Noakhali district of Bangladesh. We found that 47.62% (30/63) of the isolates were resistant to at least six antibiotics. The predominant MAR bacteria were Staphylococcus aureus (20%), Escherichia coli (20%), Enterobacter spp. (20%), and Klebsiella spp. (16.67%). All MAR bacteria were resistant to ampicillin, oxacillin, and cefixime, and 97% (29) of isolates showed resistance to cefotaxime. Altogether, above 50% of the isolates were resistant to cefepime, ciprofloxacin, azithromycin, chloramphenicol, and streptomycin. MAR index values of all but one isolate found as >0.20 implied that they were from high-risk environments. The findings suggested the urgent need to treat hospital wastewater before draining out to the environment properly, and the other wastewater should be reserved in the secluded area.