Antibiotics Resistance Pattern and Molecular Detection of ESBL Genes in E. coli from both Surface and Underground Water used for Domestic Purposes in Selected Locations in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

Water quality and human health have been strongly related to each other as water acts as a medium for the transmission of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms particularly Extended Spectrum Beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli. This study aims at assessing physicochemical parameters, antibiotic susceptibility patterns, and molecular detection of the ESBL gene in isolated E. coli from surface and underground water sources in three selected local government areas in Oyo State, Nigeria. Water samples were collected in some selected three local governments and analyzed for physicochemical properties, isolation and characterization of E. coli, antibiotic susceptibility patterns, phenotypic expression of ESBLs E. coli, and molecular detection of the ESBL gene using the standard method. The physicochemical analysis results showed that hardness mean value ranged from 29.467±0.233 to 2.133±0.318, acidity has the highest mean value of 7.533±0.120, alkalinity mean value range from 31.333±0.186 to 6.167±0.176, conductivity has the highest mean value of 1.774±0.002, total suspended solids (TSS) mean value range from 141.427±0.015 to 0.821±0.003, dissolved oxygen (DO) has the highest mean value of 5.840±0.089, pH mean value range from 6.460±0.54 to 3.963±0.133, and temperature has the highest mean value of 27.200±0.153. Antibiotic susceptibility pattern results reveal that all 12 (100%) ESBL E. coli strains exhibited resistance to nalidixic acid, ampiclox, cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, cefuroxime, and augmentin, while cefexime (91.67%), cefepime (83.33%), gentamicin (75.0%), imipenem (75.0%), levofloxacin (66.67%), ofloxacin (58.33%), and nitrofurantoin (58.33%) had the above resistance rates. Molecular analysis results revealed the presence of ESBL genes in all tested E. coli isolates, and the percentages of occurrence were blaNDM (83.33%), blaTEM (75%), blaCTX-M (66.67%), and blaOXA (50%). blaIMP and blaSHV. (16.67%), while blaVIM and blaKPC were not detected. The findings of this study revealed that there is a need for improved water quality monitoring and public health interventions to mitigate the risks associated with antibiotic-resistant bacteria in water sources.