ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE AND PLASMID PROFILE OF BACTERIA PATHOGENS FROM BOREHOLE WATER, SATCHET WATER AND BOTTLED WATER SAMPLES SOLD IN BENIN CITY

Abstract

The occurrence and spread of antibiotic-resistant pathogenic bacteria in humans and animals have become a major global healthcare problem in the 21st century. This study examined antibiotic resistance and plasmid profiles of bacterial pathogens from borehole water, sachet water and bottled water samples sold in Benin city. Coliform and total bacterial counts were done using poor-plating method. The total bacterial counts of water samples ranged from 2.0 x 102 to 8.0 x 102 cfu/ml while the total coliform counts range from 1.0 x 102 to 3.0 x 102 cfu/ml. Five bacterial isolates belonging to five different genera were isolated. These include Staphylococcus aureus (40%), Enterobacter aerogenes (26.0%), Bacillus subtilis (13.3%), Micrococcus luteus (13.3%) and Streptococcus faecalis (6.7%). Susceptibility of the isolated bacteria was determined. The isolates were resistant to most of the commonly used antibiotics. The resistance pattern of these bacterial isolates range from 5 to 8 antibiotics. Plasmid profile of isolates was determined using alkaline lysis method. Plasmid profile studies showed that all resistant isolates harboured plasmids. Furthermore, all resistant isolates shows plasmid mediated resistance to antibiotics which was confirmed by plasmid curing study. The occurrence of plasmid-mediated resistant bacteria in these potable water samples in Benin City is of special public-health concern