Finding of Multi Drug Resistance Escherichia coli as Noteworthy Emergent Environmental Contaminants

Abstract The global increase in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses an important threat, diminishing the efficiency of common antibiotics against prevalent bacterial infections. AMR, particularly multidrug resistance (MDR), has become a global issue, endangering human and animal health, food safety, and the environment. Furthermore, MDR Escherichia coli (E. coli) can colonise the intestine, displacing native commensal E. coli and become the dominant strain, which can easily spread between hosts. The large load of AMR in the environment can indirectly lead to increased AMR in humans through the food chain. The objective of this study was the characterisation of MDR E. coli from various environmental samples. Standard microbiological testing for E. coli isolation, identification, and antibiotic susceptibility was carried out. Out of 311 E. coli isolates, 155 were characterised as MDR E. coli. These findings are important for evaluating possible environmental pollution. E. coli is prevalent in environments with high AMR and MDR occurrence in a variety of fields, which provides the basis for future cooperative MDR control. Keywords Antibiotics Susceptibility Test (AST), Environment, Escherichia coli, Multi-drug resistant (MDR)