Investigating the presence of enteric bacteria and their antibiotic resistance in drinking water samples of slum households in port city Chattogram, Bangladesh

Abstract

Globally, unsafe water supplies due to contamination with fecal coliforms are major issues in urban slums. To determine the presence of microbial risk, water samples were collected from three slums in the port city Chattogram and the most probable number (MPN) method was used to test for the presence of fecal coliform. All of the samples tested positive by the MPN test. The highest count was 1,100 MPN/100 mL and the lowest count was 7.2 MPN/100 mL. Water stored in containers was prone to being more contaminated than water collected directly from the source. To understand the antibiotic resistivity of the coliform bacteria isolated from the water samples, antibiotic susceptibility was evaluated using the Kirby-Bauer disc method for six antibiotics. All the bacteria were 100% resistant to penicillin-G and ampicillin, and 91.7% showed resistance to amoxicillin and mecillinam. An integrated approach to water, sanitation, and hygiene education must be undertaken when providing sustainable interventions in slums.