WATER SOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSMISSION OF MULTIPLY RESISTANT ENTERIC BACTERIA IN RURAL BANGLADESH

The role of different water sources in the spread of multiply resistan t enteric bacteria was investigated in rural Bangladesh. The prevalenc e of resistance to commonly used antimicrobial agents in the faecal fl ora of village children and the water quality and prevalence of resist ance in village water sources were studied. Most of the children studi ed (81%) had multiply resistant faecal coliform bacteria, i.e. bacteri a resistant to at least three antimicrobials. Although tubewells provi ded water with low faecal coliform counts, 62% of household storage po ts contained water with moderate to high counts. Most of the storage p ots (76%) and each of the river and pond sites tested contained multip ly resistant isolates. Contamination of water within the household, an d the widespread distribution of resistant coliforms in the environmen t, contribute to the high prevalence of multiply resistant enteric flo ra in the community. These findings are of importance in understanding the spread of multiply resistant enteric pathogens.