Contamination by Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria in Selected Environments in Thailand

• Published in: International journal of environmental research and public health 2019-10, Vol.16 (19), p.3753
• Main Authors: Thamlikitkul, Visanu, Tiengrim, Surapee, Thamthaweechok, Narisara, Buranapakdee, Preeyanuch, Chiemchaisri, Wilai
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agriculture; Agronomy; Animal health; Animals; Antibiotic resistance; Antibiotics; Antimicrobial agents; Bacteria; Bacteria - isolation & purification; beta-Lactamases; Cockroaches; Containment; Contamination; CRE bacteria; Drug resistance; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; Economic development; Environments; Food contamination; Food contamination & poisoning; Food security; Garbage; Hospitals; Hospitals - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Laboratories; Landfill; Landfills; Leachates; Legislation; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Prevention; Rats; Staphylococcus infections; Thailand; Waste Disposal Facilities - statistics & numerical data; Waste disposal sites; Wastewater; Water treatment
• ISSN: 1660-4601; 1661-7827; 1660-4601
• DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16193753

This study determined the presence of important antibiotic-resistant bacteria in selected environments in Thailand, including wastewater samples from 60 hospitals; washed fluid, leachate, flies, cockroaches, and rats collected from five open markets; washed fluid from garbage trucks; and stabilized leachate from a landfill facility. At least one type of antibiotic-resistant bacteria was isolated from all samples of influent fluid before treatment in hospitals, from wastewater treatment tank content in hospitals, and from 15% of effluent fluid samples after treatment with chlorine prior to draining it into a public water source. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria were recovered from 80% of washed market fluid samples, 60% of market leachate samples, all fly samples, 80% of cockroach samples, and all samples of intestinal content of rats collected from the open markets. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria were recovered from all samples from the landfill. Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing and/or were the most common antibiotic-resistant bacteria recovered from all types of samples, followed by carbapenem-resistant and/or Colistin-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, carbapenem-resistant , carbapenem-resistant , colistin-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, vancomycin-resistant , and methicillin-resistant were less common. These findings suggest extensive contamination by antibiotic-resistant bacteria in hospital and community environment in Thailand.