Antibiotic susceptibility of four Enterobacteriaceae strains (Enterobacter cloacae, Citrobacter freundii, Salmonella typhi and Shigella sonnei) isolated from wastewater, surface water and groundwater in the equatorial zone of Cameroon (Central Africa)

The health problems caused waterborne pathogens bacteria belonging to the Enterobacteriaceae family are aggravated by the rise of antimicrobial resistant bacteria phenomenon. This has been identified as one of the biggest global health challenges. The present study aims to make a comparative approach of the sensitivity/resistance to antibiotics of 4 Enterobacteriaceae Enterobacter cloacae, Citrobacter freundii, Salmonella typhi and Shigella sonnei isolated from wastewater, streams and groundwater in Yaounde town (Cameroon, Central Africa). Bacteria were isolated using standard methods their identification using the API 20E systems. The antibiogram tests were carried out using the Muller-Hinton antibiotic disc diffusion method. Results showed that inhibition diameters of antibiotic varied (P<0.05) with respect to the bacterial species on one hand, and with respect to the type of water harbored cells on the other hand. The proportion of bacterial strains of each isolated species, and which were sensitive or resistant varied from one antibiotic to another within the same antibiotics family. For β-lactams tested, no E. cloacae strain has been sensitive. The proportion of sensitive strains of other species varied between 5.88% and 23.53%. For the 2 aminoglycosides tested, 5.88% of the strains of each isolated species were resistant to gentamycin. Of the 3 quinolones tested, all strains of E. cloacae and C. freundii isolated were fully resistant to Norfloxacin and of Ofloxacin. For the 3 Sulfonamides+trimethoprim, all strains of C. freundii and S. typhi isolated were resistant to Nurofurantoin and Fosfomycin. Most of bacteria strains isolated in wastewater and surface water were resistant to all the antibiotics tested. Many bacterial strains tested were multi-resistant. This multidrug resistance was more marked in E. cloacae and C. freundii species isolated from wastewater and surface water. This represents a health risk for humans and the aquatic environment.