Prevalence of multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli in household drinking water in rural Ghana

Even in the 21st century, households in rural Ghana still rely on drinking water sources that are contaminated with pathogenic Escherichia coli, the consumption of which results in morbidity and mortality of children and adults. The present study sought to determine the prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility profile of E. coli isolated from household drinking water. A total of forty-nine (49) water samples were analyzed. E. coli was isolated and confirmed from the water samples using the spread plate and biochemical tests, respectively. The Kirby–Bauer method was used for antimicrobial susceptibility testing. E. coli was isolated from 79.6% of the water samples with a mean colony growth of 15 cfu/100 μl. The isolates were absolutely resistant to ceftazidime, cefixime, augmentin, and cefuroxime. In contrast, the isolates were most susceptible to ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, gentamicin, and nitrofurantoin. Multidrug resistance was registered in 48.7% of the isolates. E. coli isolates from each water sample had a Multiple Antibiotic Resistance (MAR) index greater than 0.2, indicating increased use or misuse of antibiotics in the study area. This study revealed a high occurrence of multidrug-resistant E. coli and a record-high reduction in the efficacy of important antimicrobials.