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Effects of tourist flows on antibiotic resistance in wastewater of a Greek island
Author(s) -
Kolokotsa A.,
Leotsinidis M.,
Kalavrouziotis I.,
Sazakli E.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of applied microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.889
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1365-2672
pISSN - 1364-5072
DOI - 10.1111/jam.14808
Subject(s) - quinupristin , antibiotic resistance , population , dalfopristin , resistome , antibiotics , enterococcus , biology , ampicillin , microbiology and biotechnology , vancomycin , bacteria , staphylococcus aureus , environmental health , medicine , integron , genetics
Aim Antibiotic resistance in wastewaters reflects the clinical resistome. This study aimed at investigating whether changes in the population size and composition in the popular tourist destination of Zakynthos island are associated with differentiation in the antibiotic resistance of environmental micro‐organisms isolated from wastewater. Methods and Results The resistance profiles of four species ( Escherichia coli , Staphylococcus sp., Pseudomonas sp. and Enterococcus sp.) were studied in 124 raw and treated municipal wastewaters from November 2015 to August 2016. Isolates were tested against their susceptibility to several antibiotics of different antimicrobial categories. Data concerning the alteration in the population size and composition, due to the tourist mobility, were collected and logistic regression models were used to examine the relationships between antimicrobial resistance and population changes. The decrease in resistance of E. coli to amoxicillin–clavulanate, of enterococci to norfloxacin and ampicillin, and of pseudomonads to almost all antibiotics tested was associated with population increase due to tourist flows. In contrast, the presence of tourists was linked to an increase in quinupristin‐dalfopristin resistant enterococci. Resistance of staphylococci did not change during the tourist period. Conclusion Changes in population composition in touristic areas are reflected in antibiotic resistance of environmental bacteria in wastewater. Significance and Impact of the Study In touristic areas, where people carrying different resistomes are merged, medication should be adapted accordingly.