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Multiple antibiotic resistances of enteric bacteria isolated from recreational coastal waters and oysters of the Caribbean Sea

  • Ecological and Environmental Microbiology
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Abstract

This study investigated the antibiotic resistance of enteric bacteria and their association with environmental factors in a coastal area of the Caribbean Sea. Seawater and oyster samples were collected during rainy and dry seasons. Faecal indicators of seawater fulfilled international standards, except for enterococci during dry season, while in oysters were above 800 MPN/g tissue. Different cultural methods were used to isolate enteric bacteria, further identified by biochemical tests for species of the generaEscherichia, Providencia, Kluyvera, Citrobacter, Morganella, Klebsiella andEnterococcus. A total of 21 isolates presented multiple antibiotic resistances at least to five antibiotics, with higher resistance forEnterococcus durans against 20 antibiotics tested (20/20), followed byEscherichia coli (9/20). Enteric bacteria isolated from any sample source during the rainy season presented the highest antimicrobial resistance to penicillins and cephalosporins. This is the first report of multiple antibiotic resistances in enteric environmental isolates at the Caribbean Sea. This coastal environment might serve as a reservoir of antibiotic resistant bacteria and might represent public health risks associated with the use of recreational waters and the consumption of raw seafood.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Biología de Organismos, Universidad Simón Bolívar, Caracas, Venezuela

    Milagro Fernández-Delgado & Paula Suárez

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  1. Milagro Fernández-Delgado
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  2. Paula Suárez
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Correspondence to Paula Suárez.

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Fernández-Delgado, M., Suárez, P. Multiple antibiotic resistances of enteric bacteria isolated from recreational coastal waters and oysters of the Caribbean Sea. Ann. Microbiol. 59, 409–414 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03175123

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03175123

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