Antibiotic Sensitivity Profile of the Waterborne Disease-Causing Bacteria, Isolated from Traditional Drinking Water Sources in Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand

The antibiotic sensitivity profile evaluates antibiotic efficacy against specific bacteria.The study focused on microbial contamination in water sources and associated health risks. The methodology of the study involved the monthly analysis of water samples to evaluate their quality and bacterial content. This was achieved through the use of selective culture media for bacterial isolation, antibiotic susceptibility testing to determine resistance profiles, and the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method for measuring zones of inhibition (ZOI).Two antibiotics were tested against each bacterium at specific concentrations. Fluctuations were observed in all water physicochemical parameters. The results of our study revealed a diverse range of physicochemical parameters, which were observed as follows, pH (6-7.9), WT (7-21 ºC), AT (10-22 ºC), TDS (232-498 mg/l), DO (5.2-7.9 mg/l),CO2(0.4-2.6 mg/l), total alkalinity (59-287 mg/l), BOD (0.8-3.1 mg/l), and EC (308-799 μs/cm) and there was the significant value of different parameters (p < 0.05).The ZOI patterns varied across antibiotic concentrations for all bacterial species, with Ab1 and Ab2 exhibiting different ranges. These patterns highlight varying resistance, intermediate, and susceptibility patterns among bacteria. E. coli showed high resistance to amoxicillin, while chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, erythromycin, and tetracycline exhibited mixed responses, with resistance dominating most isolates.The antibiotic sensitivity profiles reveal high resistance across bacterial species. E. coli shows 45% resistance to amoxicillin and 50% to chloramphenicol, Salmonella has 50% resistance to ciprofloxacin and gentamicin, while Shigella exhibits 65% resistance to ciprofloxacin and 55% togentamicin, with no ciprofloxacin susceptibility. Campylobacter shows severe resistance to erythromycin (60%) and tetracycline (65%), while Clostridium demonstrates 70% resistance to vancomycin and metronidazole, with minimal susceptibility (5%).This study underscores the urgent need to monitor and safeguard traditional drinking water sources in Pithoragarh, emphasizing the need for effective strategies to mitigate bacterial contamination and antibiotic resistance, informing crucial public health interventions.