Screening for extended-spectrum beta-lactamase Escherichia coli in recreational beach waters in Singapore

Abstract

Aims: As part of Singapore's One Health antimicrobial resistance (AMR) management, this work was designed to understand the AMR burden in recreational beach waters using extended-spectrum beta-lactamase Escherichia coli (ESBL-EC) as an indicator. Materials & methods: A total of 90 water samples were collected from six different recreational beaches over three different time periods. Only 28/90 (31.3%) water samples yielded E. coli colonies ranging from 1 to 80 colony-forming units/100 ml. Results & conclusion: Screening of all colonies using CHROMID^® ESBL agar and Luria-Bertani broth supplemented with ceftriaxone showed that none was ESBL-EC. Further monitoring is required to understand the prevalence of ESBL-EC spatiotemporally, contributing to the national AMR surveillance program and providing timely risk assessment for exposure to ESBL-EC.

Keywords: ESBL E. coli; One Health; antimicrobial resistance; recreational beach water.