The Burden of Antibiotic Resistance: Evaluating the Impact of Multiple Antibiotic-Resistant Enteric Bacteria in Academic Environments

The increasing prevalence of multiple antibiotic-resistant enteric bacteria in academic environments poses a significant health risk to students and staff, potentially leading to outbreaks of difficult-to-treat infections. This study aims to evaluate the burden of antibiotic resistance and its impact on the academic community's health and well-being. A total of 45 swab samples from board dusters were screened for enteric bacterial isolates using standard microbiological techniques. The results revealed four bacterial species: Escherichia coli O157:H7, Escherichia coli JKHS016, Klebsiella pneumoniae 2014C06-125, and Klebsiella pneumoniae Kp2092. Antibiotic susceptibility testing showed 54.72% of isolates were resistant, while 45.28% were susceptible. Notably, 34.48% exhibited single antibiotic resistance, and 65.52% displayed multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR). Statistical analysis confirmed the significance (p ≤ 0.05) of these findings. This study highlights the significant burden of antibiotic resistance in academic environments, particularly on board dusters. The prevalence of multiple antibiotic-resistant enteric bacteria, including Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae, poses a considerable health risk to students and staff. The high rate of multiple antibiotic resistance (65.52%) underscores the need for improved hygiene practices, regular disinfection, and antimicrobial stewardship in academic settings to mitigate the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and protect the health and well-being of the academic community.