Antibiotic Resistance in the Bacterial Isolates of Bengaluru Lakes

Benita A; Bhasker P.A.; Dhanapal S.; Lhamu T; Syed Fatima Qadri

Abstract

Increased urbanization in Bengaluru has resulted in excessive drainage of antibiotic-resistant bacteria into its pristine lakes via sewage and seepage. This pollution of the resistant bacteria is a direct result of the unregulated use and abuse of antibiotics which has only increased over the years and become a global health threat. Regarding this issue, we conducted a study to confirm the presence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in Bengaluru lakes. For this, we sampled five representative lakes – Hebbal, Sankey Tank, Madiwala, Ulsoor, and Yediyur for bacterial isolates and cultured each on four different media. The media used were Luria Broth Agar, Tryptone (Casein Enzyme Hydrolysate), MacConkey Agar, and Blood Agar. After 24 hours of incubation, the most abundant colonies were plated in their respective media. The pure cultures were then plated with antibiotic discs belonging to five different classes (Ampicillin, Bacitracin, Erythromycin, Ciprofloxacin, and, Ceftriaxone), and the Zones of Inhibition were recorded. While all the bacterial species showed prominent Zones of Inhibition in the case of Ciprofloxacin and Ceftriaxone, many showed zones for Erythromycin, some for Bacitracin, and none for Ampicillin. We were successful in detecting antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the lakes of Bengaluru. Our results also lead us to conclude that many bacterial species indicated multi-drug resistance, with every single species indicating resistance to at least one antibiotic. With this research, we hope to raise awareness and call for more studies to be undertaken on this issue.

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