Quantitative Analysis of Clarithromycin Antibiotic Degradation by Selected Bacterial Isolates

Clarithromycin is a widely used macrolide antibiotic that frequently accumulates in the environment, leading to potential ecological risks and the promotion of antibiotic resistance. The present study aimed to isolate and characterize bacterial strains capable of degrading Clarithromycin from soil samples. Selected bacterial isolates were enriched, acclimatized to increasing concentrations of Clarithromycin, and assessed for their degradation efficiency under optimized environmental conditions. Quantitative analysis was performed using UV-Visible spectrophotometry, measuring antibiotic degradation over a 7-day incubation period. The most efficient isolates demonstrated significant degradation potential, with environmental factors like pH and temperature influencing the degradation kinetics. This study highlights the potential application of native soil bacteria for the bioremediation of Clarithromycin-contaminated environments and provides a basis for further molecular and biochemical investigations.