Impacts of Antibiotic Pollution on the Density of Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria in Greater Spokane, WA
Faculty Mentor
Krisztian Magori
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Start Date
5-7-2024 11:10 AM
End Date
5-7-2024 11:30 AM
Location
PAT 326
Primary Discipline of Presentation
Biology
Abstract
The spread of antibiotic resistance genes is a large global health threat to the mitigation of bacterial infections. The amplification of antibiotic resistance genes is due to horizontal gene transfer among bacteria, which is exacerbated with environmental pollution of antibiotics. This study aims to provide insight into the differential densities of antimicrobial resistant bacteria throughout Spokane, WA through sample collection from areas of variable antibiotic pollution. Due to antibiotic contamination in human waste, there is more antibiotic pollution in places where human wastewater flows compared to places where it does not. We hypothesize that there is a positive correlation between antibiotic resistant bacteria density and antibiotic pollution. Our methods will include collecting soil samples from locations we expect to have antibiotic pollution (near Sacred Heart Hospital, near the water aquifer that runs under Sacred Heart Hospital, and near the Spokane River) and locations we expect to have less antibiotic pollution (Turnbull Wildlife Refuge, Manito Park, and Cheney farmland). We will then grow bacteria from the soil samples on TSA plates, isolate bacterial colonies, use the Kirby Bauer antibiotic resistance disc test, and calculate colony forming units (CFUs). We hope our research will paint a more complete picture of antibiotic resistant bacteria density in the Spokane area. This can provide a better understanding of the spread of antibiotic resistance due to antibiotic pollution and the need to slow this pollution.
Recommended Citation
George, Marion; Hays, Alex; Johnson, Aspen; Kutsar, Ilona; and Laycock, Raegan, "Impacts of Antibiotic Pollution on the Density of Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria in Greater Spokane, WA" (2024). 2024 Symposium. 6.
https://dc.ewu.edu/srcw_2024/op_2024/o3_2024/6
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Impacts of Antibiotic Pollution on the Density of Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria in Greater Spokane, WA
PAT 326
The spread of antibiotic resistance genes is a large global health threat to the mitigation of bacterial infections. The amplification of antibiotic resistance genes is due to horizontal gene transfer among bacteria, which is exacerbated with environmental pollution of antibiotics. This study aims to provide insight into the differential densities of antimicrobial resistant bacteria throughout Spokane, WA through sample collection from areas of variable antibiotic pollution. Due to antibiotic contamination in human waste, there is more antibiotic pollution in places where human wastewater flows compared to places where it does not. We hypothesize that there is a positive correlation between antibiotic resistant bacteria density and antibiotic pollution. Our methods will include collecting soil samples from locations we expect to have antibiotic pollution (near Sacred Heart Hospital, near the water aquifer that runs under Sacred Heart Hospital, and near the Spokane River) and locations we expect to have less antibiotic pollution (Turnbull Wildlife Refuge, Manito Park, and Cheney farmland). We will then grow bacteria from the soil samples on TSA plates, isolate bacterial colonies, use the Kirby Bauer antibiotic resistance disc test, and calculate colony forming units (CFUs). We hope our research will paint a more complete picture of antibiotic resistant bacteria density in the Spokane area. This can provide a better understanding of the spread of antibiotic resistance due to antibiotic pollution and the need to slow this pollution.
