Multi drug resistant bacteria and pathogens are found in River Yamuna by WHO

Antibiotic resistant priority pathogens that pose the greatest threat to human lives

• World Health Organization has published the first list of antibiotic-resistant
  “priority pathogens”
• The list of antibiotic resistant priority pathogens that pose the greatest threat to
  human lives
• These critical group and certain multi-drug resistant bacteria are found in River Yamuna

Key highlights of the study

• A research paper from Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, has shown that the
  river Yamuna harbored some of these critical group, multidrug-resistant
  bacteria
• They note that sewage was the main source of their entry into the river
• The study conducted by the researchers says that sewage is the main source of
  their entry into the river
• The researcher team studies 20 major sewer drains of the river over two
  seasons at five major locations of Delhi
• The researchers found Beta-lactamases-Enzymes that help bacteria stay
  resistant to commonly used antibiotics
• The team studied 20 major sewer drains and Yamuna river at five locations
  across New Delhi over two seasons and were able to isolate faecal coliform in
  abundance in all the samples

Study findings of WHO and IIT Delhi

• They also found bacteria that produce Extended-spectrum Beta-lactamases –
  enzymes that help bacteria resist many commonly-used antibiotics
• Gene study showed the presence of resistance genes such as β-lactamases
  genes and carbapenemase in the studied samples
• The team also noted the possibility of rapid proliferation of various antibiotic
  resistance genes among different bacteria through horizontal gene transfer
• Poor sewage collection and lack of connectivity between drains and sewage
  treatment plants have worsened the situation,” noted the paper published in
  the Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering

Map of resistant bacteria by WHO

• The team was able to map the pollutants and its possible source at the 20
  different locations
• A drain with a high abundance of resistant bacteria was possibly due to high
  anthropogenic activities and greater usage of advanced antibiotics in the posh
  areas
• Previous studies have shown that antibiotic misuse, and self-medication is
  more in urban areas and people in posh areas have a high tendency to harbor
  resistant bacteria compared to the people living in rural or economicallydeprived areas
• Drains near hospitals and cattle farms also had a high abundance of antibioticresistant bacteria

What is list of “Priority Pathogens”?

• These resistant bacteria can pose a serious threat to the health of the river
  water and there is also a high possibility of the spread of resistance to humans
  and animals
• Our existing treatment plants work well with conventional organic pollutants
  like carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus; but with changing times and needs they
  need an upgrade
• The mist critical group includes multi drug resistant bacteria such as
  Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter and other Enterobacteriaceae such as E.coli,
  Klebsiella, Serratia and Proteus
• The second and third tiers in the list are of medium and high priority categories
  respectively They cause common diseases such as food poisoning, gonorrhoea

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