RESISTANCE PROFILE OF ESCHERICHIA COLI ISOLATED FROM THE ENVIRONMENT.

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to determine the antimicrobial resistance of 43 Escherichia coli strains isolated from the Santo Antonio weir (Fortaleza, CE, Brazil) from January to April 2007. Susceptibility tests performed with 8 antimicrobials indicated that 67.5% of the strains were susceptible to all of them. Resistance to tetracycline (25.6%), sulfazotrim (18.6%), nalidixic acid (9.3%), and ciprofloxacin (4.7%) was observed. The strains did not show resistance to betalactamics. Nine strains (21%) were multiresistant, the resistance being chromosome (78%) and plasmid (56%) mediated. The presence of resistant bacteria may be related to antimicrobials in the sewage discharged into the weir, and the inappropriate use of this body of water may pose human health risks.