Lac-Positive Enteric Bacteria in Stream Water: Antibiotic Resistance and Public Health Implications

Stream water contaminated with antibiotic-resistant enteric bacteria poses a significant threat to public health, serving as a reservoir for pathogens that can cause waterborne disease and complicate treatment. This study aimed to characterize enteric bacterial isolates from stream water samples and determine their antibiotic resistance patterns. Bacterial isolates were obtained from environmental samples and characterized using cultural, morphological, and biochemical tests. Molecular identification was performed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was conducted using the disc diffusion method.. Four bacterial species were identified:Escherichia coli strains NE1127 and JKHS016 (ECNE11 and ECJ6), Klebsiella pneumoniae strains 2014C06-125 and Kp2092 (KP2 and KPK2) The isolates exhibited high levels of resistance to antibiotics, including streptomycin (S), penicillin (PN), sulphamethoxazole/trimethoprim (SXT), augmentin (AU), and ciprofloxacin (CN). The overall prevalence of antibiotic resistance was 63.33%, with 78.95% of isolates exhibiting multidrug resistance. Statistical analysis showed significant differences in resistance patterns among the isolat