P102: Investigating the Prevalence of Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria in Freshwater Near High-Risk Locations in Kent County Delaware

Poster Presenter

Kimberly Aya-Marie Gerard Dayato

Full Time Student
Mount St Mary's University
United States

Objectives

This study assesses the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in freshwater sources near high-risk locations in Kent-County, Delaware, to evaluate potential public health risks and the role of environmental reservoirs in antibiotic resistance (AMR) transmission.

Method

Freshwater samples from four high-risk sites were inoculated in antibiotic broths. Positive samples were reinoculated and tested for resistance using dot agar plates. A cross-study for multidrug resistance added an additional antibiotic, followed by further dot plate testing.

Results

Quantitative data revealed varying patterns of multidrug resistance (MDR) among bacterial isolates from freshwater samples collected at high-risk sites, including an egg poultry farm, a park near a food factory, a neighborhood pond adjacent to a highway, and a human-made lake near nursing homes. Notably, isolates KDL1 (Silver Lake) and KDL2 (Schutte Park) exhibited resistance to at least seven of the tested antibiotics: Erythromycin, Chloramphenicol, Tetracycline, Gentamycin, Streptomycin, Ampicillin, Novobiocin, and Neomycin. A cross-study introducing Kanamycin further confirmed MDR, with an additional resistance observed. The presence of MDR bacteria in these environments supports the hypothesis that freshwater sources near high-risk locations serve as reservoirs for antibiotic-resistant bacteria. These findings emphasize the need for continued surveillance and improved mitigation strategies to limit environmental AMR transmission.

Conclusion

The detection of MDR bacteria in freshwater sources near high-risk locations reveals the environmental contribution to AMR transmission. The results reinforce the urgent need for proper antibiotic use and disposal practices to minimize the spread of resistance. Strengthening antibiotic regulation, improving wastewater treatment, and implementing routine environmental monitoring are crucial steps in mitigating public health risks. Further research should explore the genetic mechanisms of the resistance and assess potential impacts on human and environmental health.