Comparative Analysis of Antibiotic Resistance in Bacteria Isolated from a Freshwater Habitat and a Wastewater Treatment Plant
Location
CSU
Student's Major
Biological Sciences
Student's College
Science, Engineering and Technology
Mentor's Name
Elaine O. Hardwick
Mentor's Department
Biological Sciences
Mentor's College
Science, Engineering and Technology
Description
Antibiotic sensitivity testing of bacteria isolated and cultured from various points of the Mankato Wastewater Treatment Plant, Mankato, MN was performed in summer 2001. Bacterial isolates were differentiated and selected based on morphology and cultured until pure. The Kirby-Bauer Antibiotic Disk-Sensitivity method was used to determine sensitivity to penicillin, streptomycin, tetracycline, amoxicillin, erythromycin, and chloramphenicol. Because it is suggested in the literature that wastewater bacteria have a higher incidence of antibiotic resistance than naturally occurring bacteria, a comparison of wastewater bacterial isolate antibiotic sensitivities to those found for freshwater bacteria was performed. It was found that 73 percent of the wastewater isolates displayed resistance to at least one of the tested antibiotics with 40 percent showing multiple resistance (resistance to at least two antibiotics), whereas only 31 percent of freshwater isolates displayed resistance to at least one antibiotic and 17 percent were multiply resistant.
Comparative Analysis of Antibiotic Resistance in Bacteria Isolated from a Freshwater Habitat and a Wastewater Treatment Plant
CSU
Antibiotic sensitivity testing of bacteria isolated and cultured from various points of the Mankato Wastewater Treatment Plant, Mankato, MN was performed in summer 2001. Bacterial isolates were differentiated and selected based on morphology and cultured until pure. The Kirby-Bauer Antibiotic Disk-Sensitivity method was used to determine sensitivity to penicillin, streptomycin, tetracycline, amoxicillin, erythromycin, and chloramphenicol. Because it is suggested in the literature that wastewater bacteria have a higher incidence of antibiotic resistance than naturally occurring bacteria, a comparison of wastewater bacterial isolate antibiotic sensitivities to those found for freshwater bacteria was performed. It was found that 73 percent of the wastewater isolates displayed resistance to at least one of the tested antibiotics with 40 percent showing multiple resistance (resistance to at least two antibiotics), whereas only 31 percent of freshwater isolates displayed resistance to at least one antibiotic and 17 percent were multiply resistant.
