Occurrence of antimicrobial-resistant Enterobacteriaceae in water from different sources in a subtropical region of Argentina

  • Liliana Silvina Lösch Instituto de Medicina Regional - Universidad Nacional del Nordeste
  • José Mario Alonso Instituto de Medicina Regional - Universidad Nacional del Nordeste
  • Luis Antonio Merino Instituto de Medicina Regional - Universidad Nacional del Nordeste
Keywords: antimicrobial resistance, aquatic environments, drinking water, Enterobacteriaceae, ground water, surface water

Abstract

In order to determine the occurrence of antimicrobial-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, 506 samples of drinking water, surface water, and ground water were studied in the province of Chaco, Argentina. One hundred and ninety one isolates of Enterobacteriaceae Family members were obtained. The most frequent specie was Escherichia coli and it showed the highest rate of acquired resistance, being the ?-lactams the most affected antibiotics. The findings of the present work suggest that the occurrence of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria in aquatic ecosystems of Chaco may contribute to the environmental dissemination of antibiotic resistance.

Author Biographies

Liliana Silvina Lösch, Instituto de Medicina Regional - Universidad Nacional del Nordeste
Bioquímica, Magister en Ciencias Médicas Tropicales. Becaria del Area de Bacteriología del Instituto de Medicina Regional (Universidad Nacional del Nordeste)
Luis Antonio Merino, Instituto de Medicina Regional - Universidad Nacional del Nordeste
Bioquímico, Doctor en Bioquímica, Magister en Ciencias del Medio Ambiente y la Salud, Especialista en Salud Pública, Especialista en Bacteriología. Jefe del Area de Bacteriología del Instituto de Medicina Regional (Universidad Nacional del Nordeste) y Profesor Titular de la Cátedra de Microbiología, Parasitología e Inmunología de la Facultad de Medicina (Universidad Nacional del Nordeste)
Published
26/08/2008
Issue
Vol. 3 No. 2 (2008)
Section
Papers

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