Antimicrobial Susceptibility Profiling and Molecular Characterization of MDR Genes in ProteusSpp Isolates from Fish Market in Peshawar Pakistan

Abstract

Antimicrobials are needed to manage infections caused by fish bacterial pathogens, which have a significant economic impact on the aquaculture business. However, widespread and indiscriminate antimicrobial usage has resulted in an increase in drug resistance in pathogenic bacteria and normal flora. The goal of this work was to look at the antimicrobial susceptibility profile of Proteus species isolated from fish and the genetic characterization of resistance genes. Fish samples taken at various locations yielded a total of 50 Proteus isolates. All isolates were identified using conventional biochemical testing and antibiotic susceptibility was determined using the disc diffusion method.Proteus isolates were susceptible against Ceftazidime (94%) followed by Amikacin (84%), Ciprofloxacin (82%), Tobramycin (70%), Trimethoprim (56%), Chloramphenicol (52%), while rest of the drugs were recorded as resistant. Multidrug Resistance (MDR) Proteusisolatesresistant to 3 or more antibiotic classes were testedfor the presence of resistance genes using PCR. Overall prevalence of resistance genes in Proteus isolates was 33(66%) for aadA, 26(52%) for bla-TEM and 31(62%) for sul1. Out of 50 isolates, int gene was also present in 34(68%) isolates. Antibiotic susceptibility testing revealed the presence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in retail fish samples. The discovery of high viable numbers of bacterium isolates above permitted limits, as well as their antibiotic resistance pattern, highlights the need for ongoing environmental monitoring of retail marine foods. To reduce the public health consequences of antibiotic resistance conveyed from retail marine foods to humans, prudent antibiotic usage in aquaculture should be encouraged.