Surface Water Analyses for Antibiotic Susceptibility of Bacteria Isolated from Estuarine Environment, Turtle Sanctuary and High-Density Industrial Zone in Davao City

Abstract

The researchers sought to determine the antibiotic susceptibility profile of bacteria isolated from surface water of estuarine and sanctuary environments and high-density industrial zone in Davao City. Conducted as a concerted effort to shed light on the burgeoning problem of antibiotic resistant bacteria with the investigation of the spatial distribution of selected heavy metals in surface sediments of surface water. The surface water sources from the three sampling sites (High-Industrial, Nearshore-Estuarine and Turtle Sanctuary) were found to be contaminated with enteric bacteria, carried out by using selective media agar plate and analyzed using the Kirby-Bauer Test (Zone of Inhibition Test). Further, by determining the Antibiotic Resistance Index (ARI) of the bacterial isolates, this study was able to analyze the proportion of bacterial‐resistant determinants in a population, wherein, the three sampling sites have been found to be comparably contaminated by pathogenic enteric bacteria (p>0.05). The findings of this research serve as baseline information for government agencies in making necessary guidelines to control the transport and disposal of toxic and hazardous wastes in the area. This shall then serve as a yardstick to adopt an effective water treatment management to mitigate the current prevalence of antibiotic resistant infections.