Antibiotic Resistance of Escherichia Coli Isolated from a Stream near Two Wastewater Treatment Facilities in Edmond, Oklahoma

Escherichia coli were collected from a stream in Edmond Oklahoma that receives effluent from two wastewater treatment facilities. Esherichia coli isolates collected at effluent and downstream of effluent had significantly smaller mean zones of inhibition compared to isolates collected upstream of effluent to several antibiotics tested. The percentages of isolates resistant to at least one or more antibiotics were progressively higher at effluent and downstream of effluent compared to isolates collected upstream of effluent. Thus, the antibiotic susceptibilities of E. coli in this environment appear to be negatively impacted by wastewater treatment facility effluent. © 2012 Oklahoma Academy of Science.