Escherichia   coli   Contamination   Levels   of   Water   from   Unprotected  Wells  in  Chaona  Community, Mwachisompola Area of Chibombo District of Zambia

Doris Zgambo; Musso Munyeme; Emmanuel S. Kabwali; Lysa Thendji; Bernard Mudenda Hang’ombe

doi:10.53974/unza.jabs.7.4.1220

Doris Zgambo University of Zambia
Musso Munyeme University of Zambia
Emmanuel S. Kabwali University of Zambia
Lysa Thendji University of Zambia
Bernard Mudenda Hang’ombe University of Zambia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.53974/unza.jabs.7.4.1220

Keywords: Escherichia coli, Contamination, Unprotected wells, Water

Abstract

A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted to detect the presence of E. coli in unprotected water wells of Chaona Community in Mwachisompola area, Chibombo District of Zambia. 48 wells drawn from four villages were sampled from the study area. Laboratory processes of culturing, isolation and identification of E. coli confirmed the occurrence of the bacterium in well water. The identified E. coli was subjected to antibiotic resistance testing, and PCR was used to detect the resistant genes further. Of the 48 unprotected wells sampled, 38 (79%, 95% CI: 77.3 – 80.7%) were found contaminated with E. coli. Meanwhile, 16/48 (33.3%; CI: 31.4 – 35.2%) samples were found with an average CFU of between 1000 and 10,000, the highest range. E. coli isolates were also tested for Multi-Drug Resistance (MDR), of which one isolate indicated being resistant to eight antibiotics and another to five antibiotics presenting (5.88%; CI: 3.2 – 8.6%) for each. Meanwhile, seven isolates were resistant to four antibiotics (41.2%; CI: 35.5 – 46.9%), and eight isolates were resistant to three antibiotics (41.1%, CI: 35.4 – 46.9%). In addition, 30.9% (17/55) of the isolated E.coli organisms were found to be resistant to three or more classes of antibiotics primarily; Ampicillin, Streptomycin, Tetracycline, Cefotaxime, Nalidixic Acid, Norfloxacin, and Ciprofloxacin. The study revealed that E. coli contamination was highly possible, and it is recommended that water should be boiled and or treated with chlorine before use at the household level.

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