AUTHOR=Hossain Md. Sakib , Ali Sobur , Hossain Monir , Uddin Salman Zahir , Moniruzzaman M. , Islam Mohammad Rafiqul , Shohael Abdullah Mohammad , Islam Md. Shafiqul , Ananya Tazrina Habib , Rahman Md. Mominur , Rahman Mohammad Ashfaqur , Worth Martin , Mondal Dinesh , Mahmud Zahid Hayat 

TITLE=ESBL Producing Escherichia coli in Faecal Sludge Treatment Plants: An Invisible Threat to Public Health in Rohingya Camps, Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health

VOLUME=9

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2021.783019

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2021.783019

ISSN=2296-2565

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Introduction:</bold> Human faecal sludge contains diverse harmful microorganisms, making it hazardous to the environment and public health if it is discharged untreated. Faecal sludge is one of the major sources of <italic>E. coli</italic> that can produce extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs).</p><p><bold>Objective:</bold> This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and molecular characterization of ESBL-producing <italic>E. coli</italic> in faecal sludge samples collected from faecal sludge treatment plants (FSTPs) in Rohingya camps, Bangladesh.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> ESBL producing <italic>E. coli</italic> were screened by cultural as well as molecular methods and further characterized for their major ESBL genes, plasmid profiles, pathotypes, antibiotic resistance patterns, conjugation ability, and genetic similarity.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> Of 296 isolates, 180 were phenotypically positive for ESBL. All the isolates, except one, contained at least one ESBL gene that was tested (<italic>bla</italic><sub><italic>CTX</italic>−<italic>M</italic>−1</sub>, <italic>bla</italic><sub><italic>CTX</italic>−<italic>M</italic>−2</sub>, <italic>bla</italic><sub><italic>CTX</italic>−<italic>M</italic>−8</sub>, <italic>bla</italic><sub><italic>CTX</italic>−<italic>M</italic>−9</sub>, <italic>bla</italic><sub><italic>CTX</italic>−<italic>M</italic>−15</sub>, <italic>bla</italic><sub><italic>CTX</italic>−<italic>M</italic>−25</sub>, <italic>bla</italic><sub><italic>TEM</italic></sub>, and <italic>bla</italic><sub><italic>SHV</italic></sub>). From plasmid profiling, it was observed that plasmids of 1–211 MDa were found in 84% (151/180) of the isolates. Besides, 13% (24/180) of the isolates possessed diarrhoeagenic virulence genes. From the remaining isolates, around 51% (79/156) harbored at least one virulence gene that is associated with the extraintestinal pathogenicity of <italic>E. coli</italic>. Moreover, 4% (3/156) of the isolates were detected to be potential extraintestinal pathogenic <italic>E. coli</italic> (ExPEC) strains. Additionally, all the diarrhoeagenic and ExPEC strains showed resistance to three or more antibiotic groups which indicate their multidrug-resistant potential. ERIC-PCR differentiated these pathogenic isolates into seven clusters. In addition to this, 16 out of 35 tested isolates transferred plasmids of 32–112 MDa to <italic>E. coli</italic> J53 recipient strain.</p><p><bold>Conclusion:</bold> The present study implies that the faecal sludge samples examined here could be a potential origin for spreading MDR pathogenic ESBL-producing <italic>E. coli</italic>. The exposure of Rohingya individuals, living in overcrowded camps, to these organisms poses a severe threat to their health.</p>