BACTERIAL CONTAMINATION AND ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE PROFILES IN DRINKING WATER SOURCES IN MOSHI URBAN AND MOSHI RURAL DISTRICTS
1
KILIMANJARO CLINICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE, KILIMANJARO CHRISTIAN MEDICAL CENTRE, KILIMANJARO, Tanzania, United Republic of
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Access to safe drinking water is a fundamental human right, yet microbial contamination remains a major public health concern, The presence of pathogenic bacteria in household water sources contributes to waterborne diseases, exacerbated by the growing issue of antibiotic resistance. The level of microbial contamination and resistance profiles in water sources around rural areas is not fully investigated.
OBJECTIVE:
This study aimed to assess bacterial contamination and antibiotic resistance profiles in drinking water sources in two districts Moshi Rural and Moshi urban districts of Kilimanjaro region. The findings provides critical insights into waterborne pathogens and inform public health strategies for improving drinking water safety.
METHODS:
A cross-sectional study was conducted. Water samples from wells, boreholes, tap water (distribution points), and rivers were collected and analyzed for bacterial contamination using microbiological techniques. Isolated bacteria were subjected to antibiotic susceptibility testing to determine resistance patterns. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 30, employing descriptive and inferential statistical methods.
RESULTS:
A total of 316 water samples analyzed yielded Gram-negative rods, with lactose Fermentation confirmed in MacConkey broth. Subsequent isolation and identification via API 20E revealed three predominant species: Klebsiella pneumoniae, Aeromonas hydrophila, and Pantoea spp. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing by Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion showed that all K. pneumoniae isolates were 100% susceptible to ciprofloxacin, chloramphenicol, gentamicin, tetracycline, and meropenem, but 29.8% were resistant to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid. Aeromonas hydrophila demonstrated 98% susceptibility to ciprofloxacin and 100% to meropenem, with 45.2% resistance to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid. Both Pantoea spp. Strains were uniformly susceptible to the five first-line antibiotics yet exhibited 26.7% resistance to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid.
CONCLUSIONS:
A significant proportion of drinking water sources in Moshi Urban and Rural Districts are microbiologically contaminated, with well water posing the highest risk. The detection of emerging antibiotic resistance microorganisms among water isolates highlights a growing public health concern.
Access to safe drinking water is a fundamental human right, yet microbial contamination remains a major public health concern, The presence of pathogenic bacteria in household water sources contributes to waterborne diseases, exacerbated by the growing issue of antibiotic resistance. The level of microbial contamination and resistance profiles in water sources around rural areas is not fully investigated.
OBJECTIVE:
This study aimed to assess bacterial contamination and antibiotic resistance profiles in drinking water sources in two districts Moshi Rural and Moshi urban districts of Kilimanjaro region. The findings provides critical insights into waterborne pathogens and inform public health strategies for improving drinking water safety.
METHODS:
A cross-sectional study was conducted. Water samples from wells, boreholes, tap water (distribution points), and rivers were collected and analyzed for bacterial contamination using microbiological techniques. Isolated bacteria were subjected to antibiotic susceptibility testing to determine resistance patterns. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 30, employing descriptive and inferential statistical methods.
RESULTS:
A total of 316 water samples analyzed yielded Gram-negative rods, with lactose Fermentation confirmed in MacConkey broth. Subsequent isolation and identification via API 20E revealed three predominant species: Klebsiella pneumoniae, Aeromonas hydrophila, and Pantoea spp. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing by Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion showed that all K. pneumoniae isolates were 100% susceptible to ciprofloxacin, chloramphenicol, gentamicin, tetracycline, and meropenem, but 29.8% were resistant to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid. Aeromonas hydrophila demonstrated 98% susceptibility to ciprofloxacin and 100% to meropenem, with 45.2% resistance to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid. Both Pantoea spp. Strains were uniformly susceptible to the five first-line antibiotics yet exhibited 26.7% resistance to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid.
CONCLUSIONS:
A significant proportion of drinking water sources in Moshi Urban and Rural Districts are microbiologically contaminated, with well water posing the highest risk. The detection of emerging antibiotic resistance microorganisms among water isolates highlights a growing public health concern.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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