Advanced Research Journal of Microbiology Vol. 1 (2), pp. 010-017, October, 2013. © Advanced Scholars Journals

Full length research paper

Bacteriological quality of tap water samples obtained from different sources in and around Mymensingh city of Bangladesh with particular focus on antimicrobial resistance of Escherichia coli

Shabnam Sharmin¹, S. M. Lutful Kabir^1*, M. Enamul Hoque Kayesh², A.K.M. Ziaul Haque³ and M. Mufizur Rahman¹

 The objective of this study was to assess the bacteriological quality of tap water samples obtained from different sources in and around Mymensingh city of Bangladesh. A total of 30 tap water samples were collected from August to October 2012 for this purpose. For achieving the above mentioned objective, methods of heterotrophic plate count (HPC) and total coliform count (TCC) were applied. Moreover, isolated E. coli from tap water samples were characterized by using biochemical and antimicrobial susceptibility tests. HPC and TCC were encountered highest in municipal tap water. In respect to antimicrobial susceptibility testing, most of theEscherichia coli isolates were resistant to erythromycin, ampicilin, tetracycline, streptomycin and ciprofloxacin. Furthermore, a few E. coli isolates were intermediate resistant to chloramphenicol and norfloxacin.However, most of the E. coli isolates were susceptible to azithromycin and gentamicin. Moreover, out of 12 E. coli isolates 11 (91.66%) isolates were detected as multidrug resistant. This study indicated the presence of multidrug resistant E. coli isolates in tap water in Mymensingh that warrants particular attention. 

 

¹Department of Microbiology and Hygiene, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh.

²Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Babugonj, Barisal, Bangladesh.

³Kazi Farms Poultry Laboratory, Holding no-8/1, Floor no-A3 & A4, Padma plaza (opposite of Gazipur Commerce College), Chandana - Chowrasta, Gazipur-1704, Bangladesh.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]. Tel: +88-091-67401-6 (ext. 2394).

Accepted 6 September, 2013

Abstract

Key words: Escherichia coli, bacteriological quality, tap water, antimicrobial susceptibility, multidrug resistance.