The Effects of Chemical Pollution on Antibiotic Resistance of Escherichia coli and Salmonella enteritidis in Sea Water

Authors: Reşit ÖZKANCA, Nevzat ŞAHİN, Önder İDİL

Abstract: Minimum inhibitory concentraitons of ceftazidime, gentamicin, rifampicin and streptomycin for Escherichia coli and Salmonella enteritidis were determined under the effects of chemical pollution in sea water. Cells were either pretreated with hydrogen peroxide, ethanol, nitrobenzene and toluene and then released into sea water microcosms, or added directly to the sea water. Antibiotic susceptibility of E. coli and S. enteritidis was altered following chemical treatments. Antibiotic resistance was increased in E. coli cells with all chemical treatments, but ethanol and nitrobenzene treatment yielded the greatest increase in resistance. Similar trends were observed both in pretreated cells and in those surviving in the presence of chemical treatments. However, S. enteritidis cells showed a more marked increase in resistance in the presence of chemicals than pretreated cells.

Keywords: Antibiotic susceptibility, chemical pollution, sea water, bacteria.