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. 2025 Feb 27;22(3):353.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph22030353.

Detection of Antibiotic-Resistance Genes in Drinking Water: A Study at a University in the Peruvian Amazon

Euclides Ticona Chayña  1 , Pompeyo Ferro  1 , Eli Morales-Rojas  2 , Ana Lucia Ferro-Gonzales  3 , Jorge Bautista Nuñez  4 , Edwaldo Villanueva Pedraza  5 , Jorge Antonio Malca Florindes  6 , Polan Ferro-Gonzales  7
Affiliations

Detection of Antibiotic-Resistance Genes in Drinking Water: A Study at a University in the Peruvian Amazon

Euclides Ticona Chayña et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

This study investigated the presence of antibiotic-resistance genes in drinking water consumed by the university community in the Peruvian Amazon. Water samples were collected from three primary sources: inflow from the distribution network, a storage cistern, and an underground intake. Conventional PCR was employed to detect genes associated with resistance to erythromycin (ermC), ampicillin (amp), ciprofloxacin (QEP), multidrug resistance (marA), and specific multidrug resistance in E. coli (qEmarA). Physicochemical analysis revealed compliance with most regulatory standards; however, groundwater samples showed lead concentrations exceeding legal limits (0.72 mg/L) and lacked residual chlorine. All sampling points tested positive for the evaluated resistance genes, demonstrating the widespread dissemination of resistance factors in drinking water. Contrary to initial expectations, resistance genes were also prevalent in treated sources. These findings reveal a critical public health risk for the university community, emphasising the need for effective disinfection systems and robust monitoring protocols to ensure water safety. The presence of these resistance genes in water is a critical public health concern as it can facilitate the spread of resistant bacteria, reducing the effectiveness of medical treatments and increasing the risk of infections that are difficult to control.

Keywords: antibiotic resistance; antibiotic-resistance genes; conventional PCR; public health; water quality.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Geographic location of the research.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Heat map of physical–chemical parameters.
Figure 3
Figure 3
DNA concentration.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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