ANTIBIOTIC-RESISTANCE AND METAL TOLERANCE AMONG COLIFORM SP FROM DRINKING-WATER IN A HILLY AREA

A total of 89 drinking water samples from 56 springs, 28 dug wells and 5 streams were analysed for bacterial contamination. About 49.4% of s amples showed presence of coliform sp. Recovery of Escherichia coli wa s maximum followed by Citrobacter freundii > C. koseri > Klebsiella ae rogenes > K. ozaenae > Enterobacter cloacae and > E. liquefacience. Ou t of total coliform isolates 36.4% exhibited resistance for varying nu mber of antibiotics (12 nos.). Resistance for ampicillin (56.8%) was m aximum followed by cephaloridine. (45.5%) and cephazolin (47.7%). Half of isolates exhibited multiple (> 2) antibiotic resistance. All isola tes also exhibited tolerance for different minimum inhibitory concentr ations (MICs) of heavy metals (10 nos). Higher MICs of zinc, copper an d lead were observed for 93.7%, 88.6% and 50% of isolates, respectivel y.