Investigating Antibiotic Susceptibility of Pathogenic Microorganisms in Groundwater from Boreholes and Shallow Wells in T/A Makhwira, Chikwawa

Many rural communities in Malawi use groundwater from boreholes and shallow wells for drinking and cooking with limited or no treatment because it is considered as a safe source of water. Contamination of groundwater sources by antimicrobial resistant bacteria renders the water unsafe to use. This study investigated the antibiotic susceptibility of pathogenic microorganisms isolated from groundwater sources in T/A Makhwira, Chikwawa. Water samples were collected from 13 boreholes and 7 protected shallow wells from T/A Makhwira, Chikwawa. E. coli, Salmonella enterica ssp Arizona, K. pneumoniae, ESBL E. coli and ESBL K. pneumoniae were detected in some water samples. Antibiotic susceptibility tests showed that the isolates had high resistance to Ampicillin (42%) followed by Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (26%), Ciprofloxacin (21%), Doxycycline and Amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (16%). The isolates had a very high sensitivity to Gentamicin (89%). The study revealed that the water from some boreholes and shallow wells in T/A Makhwira is highly contaminated and needs to be treated before consumption. Drinking untreated water from these sources could transfer antibiotic resistant bacteria to humans because the groundwater may act as a vehicle for the transmission of these antibiotic resistant bacteria.