To the Study of Occurrence, Identification & Antimicrobial Resistance Profile of Klebsiella Pneumoniae Isolated from Environmental Surface Water Sources

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major global public health challenge, with environmental water bodies increasingly recognized as reservoirs for antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. Klebsiella pneumoniae is an opportunistic Gram-negative pathogen capable of surviving in aquatic environments and acquiring resistance to multiple antimicrobial agents. This study aimed to isolate and identify K. pneumoniae from different surface water sources and evaluate its antimicrobial susceptibility and multidrug resistance (MDR) patterns. A total of 60 environmental water samples were collected from four surface water sources: river water, pond water, irrigation canals, and temple water tanks (15 samples each). Isolation and identification were performed using standard microbiological methods, including selective culture, Gram staining, and biochemical characterization. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was conducted using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method according to CLSI guidelines. Pearson’s Chi-square test was used to assess the association between sampling source and bacterial isolation. K. pneumoniae was isolated from 33 (55.0%) samples. The highest isolation rate was observed in temple water tanks (66.7%), followed by ponds (60.0%), while river and canal water each showed 46.7%. No significant association was observed between sampling source and bacterial isolation (χ² = 1.818, p = 0.611). High resistance was observed to cefotaxime (57.6%), ceftriaxone (54.5%), amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (51.5%), and ceftazidime (48.5%). Meropenem (97.0%), imipenem (93.9%), and amikacin (90.9%) showed the highest activity. Overall, 12 (36.4%) isolates were MDR. These findings highlight surface water as a potential reservoir of antimicrobial-resistant K. pneumoniae and support the need for environmental surveillance, improved water management, and antimicrobial stewardship.