Multi-Drug Resistance Bacteria: A Case Study in Western Peninsular Malaysia Freshwaters

Abstract

The emergence of antibiotic resistant bacteria in the aquatic environment has led to an increase in waterborne health risks to an alarming extent. This study attempts to investigate the population of certain antibiotic resistant strains in Peninsular Malaysia. From the samples of 14 rivers from 7 different states, 203 isolates were successfully isolated. These were from rivers in Negeri Sembilan, Melaka, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu with 35, 15, 37, 39, 24, 26 and 27 isolates, respectively. The isolates were tested for their susceptibility to-wards 6 broad spectrums of antibiotics which are gentamicin, ampicillin, rifampicin, chloramphenicol, tetracycline, and ciprofloxacin. Out of the 203 isolates, 117 isolates were identified to have more than 20% MAR index value, with 47 of the isolates possess a minimum 50% MAR index value. Based on MAR index value, 59% of the isolates are high risk threats indicating a serious emergence of antibiotic resistant bacteria in the rivers in Peninsular Malaysia. Isolates with MAR index value of more than 50% were selected for 16S rRNA gene sequencing for further identification. Based on 16s rRNA gene sequencing, the isolates are a mixture of pathogenic and commensals bacteria, implying that the environment, especially rivers, can be a reservoir for genetic jugglery.