Temporal Variation of Meropenem Resistance in E. coli Isolated from Sewage Water in Islamabad, Pakistan

The WHO has classified carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae in most critical priority pathogens that pose a threat to human health. The present study investigated the prevalence of meropenem-resistant ( ) in relation to its temporal variation in different seasons along with its resistance markers in sewage water. was selected on MacConkey agar containing meropenem (3 µg/mL). There were 27% of sites/sewage samples carrying meropenem-resistant . All were confirmed through the amplification of the A gene. All isolated were multidrug-resistant (MDR), and among them, 51% were extensively drug-resistant (XDR). An antibiogram determined against 15 antibiotics showed the highest resistance to ampicillin and cefotaxime (98% each) and lowest resistance to fosfomycin (2%). Phylogenetic groups and resistance gene analysis through PCR showed a significant co-occurrence of carbapenemases with extended spectrum beta lactamases (ESBLs), plasmid encoded quinolone, and colistin resistance genes. The higher number of resistance genes in isolates in community sewage indirectly indicate that these isolates circulate abundantly in the community.