Discover Water (Jul 2024)

Investigation and detection of multiple antibiotic-resistant pathogenic bacteria in municipal wastewater of Dhaka city

  • Abu Bakkar Siddique,
  • Atia Munni,
  • Maruf Hasan,
  • Rayhan Raj,
  • Md. Abdul Mutalib,
  • Md. Tajuddin Sikder,
  • Tatsufumi Okino,
  • Ayesha Ahmed,
  • Md. Shakhaoat Hossain

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s43832-024-00114-9
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 4, no. 1
pp. 1 – 14

Abstract

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Abstract Background Water pollution in densely populated urban areas, mainly from municipal wastewater, poses a significant threat. Pathogenic bacteria, such as Vibrio spp. and fecal coliform, endanger public health and the environment. Additionally, antibiotic-resistant bacteria in wastewater complicate treatment and heighten public health concerns. Methods The study sampled municipal wastewater from ten Dhaka neighborhoods, selecting treatment plants, sewage outlets, and various collection points using meticulous techniques for representative samples. Bacteriological and biochemical analyses were conducted using standardized methods. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) was performed with the disk diffusion method against 13 widely used antibiotics. Results All sampled areas exhibited positive results for Vibrio spp., fecal coliform, E. coli, and Salmonella spp. Varying bacterial concentrations were observed, with the highest concentration of TVC, total vibrio spp., and total fecal coliform, total E. coli count, and total Salmonella spp. were found in Uttara (1.9 × 104 CFU/ml), Bangshal (1.8 × 102 CFU/ml), and Lalbag (2.1 × 103 CFU/ml), Mirpur (3.70 × 102 CFU/ml), and Lalbag (6 × 102 CFU/ml) respectively. AST results revealed significant resistance among all bacterial species to various antibiotics. Specifically, Vibrio spp. showed 100% resistance to cefuroxime, fecal coliform exhibited 90% resistance to cephradine, E. coli demonstrated 60% resistance to cephradine, and Salmonella spp. displayed 90% resistance to ampicillin. Conclusion The study highlights the existence of multiple antibiotic-resistant bacteria in Dhaka's wastewater. Addressing antibiotic resistance is essential to manage the risks of multiple antibiotic-resistant infections and maintain antibiotic effectiveness. These implications are critical for various stakeholders, including public health officials, policymakers, environmentalists, and urban planners.

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