engleski

Persistence of colistin- and carbapenem-resistant bacteria in marine environment

Considering the significant role of natural environment in the proliferation and persistence of bacterial resistance to antibiotics, it is particularly important to monitor the resistance in aquatic areas which are under major human influence. Therefore, we sampled the seawater from central part of Adriatic coast – from two faecally polluted sites in Kaštela Bay and a 'clean' reference site Stončica (island of Vis) – to investigate the features of bacterial resistance to antibiotics of a last resort, the carbapenems and colistin. We aimed to determine the frequency of imipenem and colistin resistance, and the diversity of bacterial populations with this resistance phenotype in seawater from fecally polluted sites in contrast to the unpolluted control station. In addition, randomly selected resistant strains were identified, and their antibiotic resistance pattern determined. Based on the obtained data, the levels of colistin and imipenem resistance were clearly a consequence of differences in the composition of bacterial populations persisting in seawater at these sites, among which the species mediating intrinsic resistance to these antibiotics prevail. The results indicate the need for further investigation of antibiotic resistance in environment to preserve the biodiversity of marine ecosystem and reduce the risk for human and environmental health.

colistin resistance ; carbapenem resistance, marine environment

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