Screening for Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase Escherichia Coli in Recreational Beach Waters in Singapore

Abstract

Aims: As part of Singapore’s One Health antimicrobial resistance (AMR) management, this work was designed to understand the AMR burden in recreational beach waters using extended-spectrum beta-lactamase Escherichia coli (ESBL-EC) as an indicator. Materials & methods: A total of 90 water samples were collected from six different recreational beaches over three different time periods. Only 28/90 (31.3%) water samples yielded E. coli colonies ranging from 1 to 80 colony-forming units/100 ml. Results & conclusion: Screening of all colonies using CHROMID^® ESBL agar and Luria-Bertani broth supplemented with ceftriaxone showed that none was ESBL-EC. Further monitoring is required to understand the prevalence of ESBL-EC spatiotemporally, contributing to the national AMR surveillance program and providing timely risk assessment for exposure to ESBL-EC.

Keywords::

• antimicrobial resistance
• ESBL E. coli
• One Health
• recreational beach water

Financial & competing interest disclosure

The study was supported by the Singapore’s Reinvestment Fund: Integrated Programme to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance in the Environment Sector. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

The study was supported by the Singapore’s Reinvestment Fund: Integrated Programme to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance in the Environment Sector. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.