Multidrug-resistant pathogens contaminate river water used in irrigation in disenfranchised communities
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The contamination of fresh surface waters poses a significant burden on human health and prosperity, especially in marginalized communities with limited resources and inadequate infrastructure. Here, we performed in-depth genomic analyses of multidrug-resistant bacteria (MDR-B) isolated from Al-Oueik river water that is used for irrigation of agricultural fields in a disenfranchised area that also hosts a makeshift Syrian refugee camp. METHODS: A composite freshwater sample was filtered. Faecal coliforms were counted and extended spectrum cephalosporins and/or ertapenem resistant bacteria were screened. Isolates were identified using MALDI-TOF-MS and analysed using whole-genome sequencing (WGS) to identify the resistome, sequence types, plasmid types, and virulence genes. RESULTS: Approximately 106 CFU/100 mL of faecal coliforms were detected in the water. Four drug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria were identified, namely Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter hormaechei, and Pseudomonas otitidis. Notably, the E. coli isolate harboured blaNDM-5 and a YRIN-inserted PBP3, representing an emerging public health challenge. The K. pneumoniae isolate carried blaSHV-187 as well as mutations in the gene encoding the OmpK37 porin. Enterobacter hormaechei and P. otitidis harboured blaACT-16 and blaPOM-1, respectively. CONCLUSION: This report provides comprehensive genomic analyses of MDR-B in irrigation water in Lebanon. Our results further support that irrigation water contaminated with faecal material can be a reservoir of important MDR-B, which can spread to adjacent agricultural fields and other water bodies, posing both public health and food safety issues. Therefore, there is an urgent need to implement effective water quality monitoring and management programs to control the proliferation of antibiotic-resistant pathogens in irrigation water in Lebanon.
Date Issued
2024-03
Date Acceptance
2023-12-20
Citation
Journal of Global Antimicrobial Resistance, 2024, 36, pp.175-180
ISSN
2213-7165
Publisher
Elsevier
Start Page
175
End Page
180
Journal / Book Title
Journal of Global Antimicrobial Resistance
Volume
36
Copyright Statement
© 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of International Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. This is an open access article under the CC
BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
Identifier
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/38154747
Subjects
Enterobacter
Escherichia coli
Gram-Negative Bacteria
Humans
Klebsiella pneumoniae
Plasmids
Rivers
Antimicrobial resistance
NDM-5
One Health
Refugee
River
Water quality
Publication Status
Published
Coverage Spatial
Netherlands
Date Publish Online
2023-12-27