Staff Reporter
Rtnn: As much as 60-70% of the bacteria found in nature are resistant to antibiotics in Bangladesh, according to a study.

The comprehensive study conducted by the Microbiology Department of Jahangirnagar University (JU) revealed the alarming trends in antibiotic resistance among bacteria in natural environments.

The findings, presented at a seminar titled "One Health Assessment of Emerging Antimicrobial Resistance Genes in Bangladeshi Livestock, Feeds, and Manure," on Tuesday underscored the urgent need for attention to this growing public health concern.

The research, led by JU’s Department of Microbiology and funded by the Bangladesh Academy of Science and the United States Department of Agriculture, examined 240 cattle samples and 110 human samples (diary). A total of 225 bacteria with more than 30 genomes were identified from cattle samples, while 140 bacteria with more than 30 genomes were identified from human samples.

The bacteria obtained were subjected to an "Antibiotic Susceptibility Test" against 20 antibiotics from nine antibiotic groups.

 Shockingly, the results revealed that a significant percentage of the bacteria, approximately 60-70%, were resistant to antibiotics.

Even last-line antibiotics, such as carbapenems, faced a concerning 90% resistance in some cases, particularly against colistin.

Moreover, using advanced techniques like RT-PCR, the researchers identified more than 19 antibiotic-resistant genes in the collected bacteria.

This technology enabled precise detection of the presence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and facilitated various applications at the molecular level, including protein detection, mutation analysis, and the presence of microorganisms, all achieved within a short timeframe.

Prof Salequl Islam, the main supervisor of the project, emphasized the noticeable impact of antibiotic use on the observed resistance patterns. He highlighted that the study effectively detected the presence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and associated genes with precision, thanks to RT-PCR technology.

Dr Sabrina Hossain, a post-doctoral fellow of the World Health Organization, stressed the importance of understanding the history of antibiotic use in cattle and the mechanisms involved in the transfer of resistance genes.

During the seminar, Head of Ad-Din Women's Medical College, Dr Qazi Salim Anwar, also spoke at the event.