Antibiotic Resistance in Pseudomonas spp. Through the Urban Water Cycle

Selection and dissemination of resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) require a deeper understanding since antibiotics are permanently released to the environment. The objective of this paper was to evaluate the phenotypic resistance of 499 isolates of Pseudomonas spp. from urban water sources, and the prevalence of 20 ARGs within those isolates. Resistance to penicillins, cephalosporins, carbapenems, quinolones, macrolides, and tetracyclines was mainly observed in the hospital effluent, municipal wastewater and river water downstream the city. Resistant strains were frequently identified as P. aeruginosa and P. putida. P. aeruginosa isolates were mostly resistant to cefepime, ceftazidime, imipenem, and gentamycin, while P. putida strains were especially resistant to piperacillin-tazobactam. ARGs such as bla(TEM-1), bla(SHV-1), bla(PER-1), bla(AmpC), bla(VIM-1), PstS, qnrA, qnrB, ermB, tetA, tetB and tetC have been detected. The bla(AmpC) gene was found in P. aeruginosa, while bla(TEM-1) and bla(PER-1) genes were found in P. putida. Class 1 integron integrase gene was found in 6.81% of the Pseudomonas isolates.

Automated summary

This study evaluated the phenotypic resistance and prevalence of antibiotic resistance genes in Pseudomonas spp. isolates from urban water sources, revealing resistance to various antibiotics in hospital effluent, municipal wastewater, and river water downstream the city. Identified resistant strains were mainly P. aeruginosa and P. putida, with presence of multiple ARGs in the isolates.