22nd Annual Student Research Conference
Antibiotic Resistance of Escherichia coli from Hazel Creek Lake and Forest Lake
Jacob E. Schrum
Dr. Michael Lockhart and Dr. Cynthia Cooper, Faculty Mentors
The overuse of antibiotics has led to growing numbers of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This study used the disk diffusion method to screen Escherichia coli isolates from Forest Lake (FL) and Hazel Creek Lake (HCL) for resistance to eight antibiotics and triclosan (antibacterial found in many household products). Twenty-three isolates were tested from each lake. Drug susceptibility was observed to four antimicrobials and three drugs had virtually no effect. However, 14 E. coli isolates (30.4%) were resistant to tetracycline. Significantly more resistant isolates came from HCL (13) than FL (1). The HCL watershed includes a small cattle farm, and tetracycline is often added to cattle feed. The greater number of tetracycline-resistant isolates in HCL is potentially due to fecal contamination from cattle. Twenty-five of the isolates (54.4%) were triclosan-resistant, but the distribution of triclosan-resistant isolates was more evenly distributed between the two lakes, potentially because triclosan-containing household wastes drain into both lakes.
Keywords: Antibiotics, Resistance, E. coli, bacteria, water quality
Topic(s):Biology
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 59-2
Location: VH 1408
Time: 3:00