LITERATURE STUDY OF ESCHERICHIA COLI RESISTANCE TO STREPTOMYCIN AND GENTAMICIN IN WATERSHED AREAS

Abstract

Water is an essential requirement for life, as approximately 70% of living organisms’ bodies are composed of water. River basins are an important source of water; however, they are highly vulnerable to contamination originating from the direct discharge of human feces into water bodies, leakage from septic tanks, and animal feces from livestock enclosures located near river basins. This literature study aims to review various studies on the resistance of Escherichia coli (E. coli) to the antibiotics streptomycin and gentamicin reported in various river basins. The method used was a literature review of relevant national and international scientific journals, with secondary data collection in the form of the percentage of E. coli and its resistance to these two antibiotics. The results of the review indicate that the percentage of E. coli in river basins varies between 0–100%, with most locations showing high levels of contamination. Resistance to streptomycin tends to be higher than to gentamicin, with the highest values reaching 93% for streptomycin and 100% for gentamicin in several locations. These findings suggest that fecal contamination contributes to the dissemination of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in aquatic environments. It can therefore be concluded that elevated levels of fecal pollution in watersheds not only degrade water quality but also potentially enhance the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Accordingly, the implementation of prudent antibiotic use, alongside effective watershed pollution control strategies, is strongly recommended to preserve water quality and mitigate the risk of antibiotic resistance.