Isolation Identification and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing of Salmonella SPP. In Watersources Used for Commercial And Domestic Purposes In Peshawar, Pakistan

Abstract

Background: Salmonella, a Gram-negative, facultative anaerobic bacterium, is a major zoonotic disease that causes significant illness and mortality worldwide. With approximately 2,500 serotypes divided into two species—Salmonella enterica and Salmonella bongori-this pathogen proves distinct biochemical properties and host specificity. Salmonella is mostly present in the intestines of animals and birds, with transmission to humans often happening through contaminated food and water sources. Non-typhoidal strains usually produce self-limiting gastroenteritis, but typhoidal strains cause severe systemic infections, such as typhoid fever, which is still a serious public health problem. Despite advances in food safety procedures, Salmonella continues to cause an estimated ninety million episodes of gastroenteritis each year, resulting in around 155,000 fatalities globally. Water quality plays a significant role in the spread of Salmonella because of polluted drinking. Methodology: This study was conducted at Department of Microbiology, Rehman Medical Institute, Hayatabad Peshawar, during September to November 2024. A cross-sectional study was designed to investigate the bacteriological analysis of water from different areas of district Peshawar. A total of 384 water samples were collected. The collected samples were immediately transported to the Department of Microbiology, Rehman Medical Institute Hayatabad, Peshawar, for analysis. The samples were directly transferred in test tubes to the laboratory for further preparation and examination. Nonprobability sampling technique was used. Results: In this study 384 water samples were collected from different areas of Peshawar using convenience sampling. A total of 214 (55.73%) were collected from tape water, 96 (25%) from tube well and 74 (19.27%) were from water tank. Out of 384 samples 43 (11.20 %) samples were found positive for Salmonella. Conclusion: The study highlights the public health implications of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in water, highlighting the need for stringent measures to prevent their occurrence, as the consumption of water containing these bacteria may prolong the treatment of water-borne diseases.

Key Words: Salmonella, water borne disease, AST, XDR