Antimicrobial resistance screening and profiles: A glimpse from the South African perspective
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Date
2020
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
IWA Publishing
Abstract
According to the Centre for Disease Dynamics Economics and Policy, South Africa represents a
paradox of antibiotic management similar to other developing countries, with both overuse and
underuse (resulting from lack of access) of antibiotics. In addition, wastewater reuse may contribute
towards antibiotic resistance through selective pressure that increases resistance in native bacteria
and on clinically relevant bacteria, increasing resistance profiles of the common pathogens.
Sediments of surface water bodies and wastewater sludge provide a place where antibiotic
resistance genes are transferred to other bacteria. Crop irrigation is thought to be a potential source
of exposure to antibiotic-resistant bacteria through the transfer from the water or sludge into crops.
The objectives of this study were to examine the antibiotic-resistance profiles of Escherishia coli from
three agricultural locations in the Western Cape, South Africa. Using a classical microbiology culture
approach, the resistance profiles of E. coli species isolated from river water and sediments, farm
dams and their sediments and a passive algal wastewater treatment ponds and sediment used for
crop irrigation were assessed for resistance to 13 commonly used antibiotics. Randomly selected
E. coli isolates from the sediment and water were tested for resistance.
Description
Keywords
Agriculture irrigation water, Antibiotic resistant bacteria, River water, Wastewater, South Africa
Citation
Genthe, B. et al. (2020). Antimicrobial resistance screening and profiles: A glimpse from the South African perspective. Journal of Water and Health, 18 (6), 925–936. https://doi.org/10.2166/wh.2020.034