2015 APHA Annual Meeting & Expo

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317319
Antibiotic Susceptibility of Pathogenic Bacteria Isolated from Various Drinking Water Sources of Oshikhandass village, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan


Tuesday, November 3, 2015 : 4:30 p.m. - 4:50 p.m.

Saira Baig, M.Phil Environmental Sciences, B.Ed Education and B.Sc (Hons) Biological Sciences, Department of Biological Sciences, Karakoram International University, Gilgit, Pakistan
Audio (mp3) recording Recorded Presentation (mp4)
Background: This research was conducted in the Karakoram Mountains of Northern Pakistan (Oshikhandass village) to investigate the level of pathogens presenting a public health hazard in typical sources of drinking water and their sensitivity pattern against seven antibiotics.

Methods: Nine months study included 216 representative water samples from heterogeneous sources were collected, including samples from main source, water reservoirs (I & II) and their distribution (tap water), household storage containers, water channels and water pits. Quantitative analysis of bacteria was performed by spread plate technique and antibiotic susceptibility test was done by disk diffusion method.

Results: Microbiologically, total fecal coliform in drinking water reflected an alarming health hazard i.e., in main source - 3.04×105 cfu/ml, followed by 3.68×105 cfu/ml in water reservoir-I, 3.90×105 cfu/ml in tap-I, 3.12×105 cfu/ml in water reservoir-II, 1.71×105 cfu/ml in tap-II, 3.42×105 cfu/ml in water container, 3.02×105 cfu/ml in water channel and 3.80×105 cfu/ml in water pit, respectively. The sensitivity test showed that Cefixime shows 77.77%, Ciprofloxacin 91.6%, Lincomycin 48.61%, Ampicillin 8.33%, Amoxicillin 16.66%, Cephradine 66.66%, and Tetracycline 29.16% against the isolated E.coli and Salmonella spp. shows 85.00% sensitivity against Cefixime followed by Ciprofloxacin 95.00%, Lincomycin 50.00%, Ampicillin 15.00%, Amoxicillin 25.00%, Cephradine 75.00% and Tetracycline 20.00%.

Conclusion: The resulting contamination of water sources with pathogens does not meet WHO Drinking Water Guidelines and their resistivity to antibiotics is an alarming threat to public health. So, there is a critical need for improvement in the water supply system and enhancement of public awareness on waterborne diseases.

Learning Areas:

Environmental health sciences
Protection of the public in relation to communicable diseases including prevention or control
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Analyze specific microbiological information on drinking water quality to determine the antibiotic sensitivity pattern of isolated pathogenic bacteria.

Keyword(s): Water & Health, Pathogens

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: My personal interest in Environmental Sciences and Public Health motivated me to do this field based research on water-borne diseases in rural settings of Pakistan. Besides this intrinsic motivation I have spent a wholesome amount of time and energy to make my work available to general public for awareness, which in my idea allows me to become author for serving the said purpose.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 4411.0: Clean Air and Water