Phenotypic and genotypic profile of the antimicrobial resistance of bacterial isolates and evaluation of physical and chemical potability indicators in groundwater in Brazil.

The aquatic environment has received increasing attention regarding the evolution of bacterial resistance, either as a source of resistance genes or as a matrix for the dissemination of these genes. We evaluated the physicochemical, microbiological and antimicrobial resistance characteristics of 160 samples from alternative water well solutions. According to Ordinance 2914/2011 – MS, 44 (27.5%) samples were considered unsafe if at least one physicochemical parameter exceeded permissible limits. <i>Escherichia coli</i> were found in 30.6% of the unregistered housing estates (UHE) and 1.9% of the local sanitary surveillance system (RW). The total of 158 bacterial strains were isolated from 13 (25%) RW and 68 (63%) UHE, 132 of which (83.5%) were obtained from UHE samples. In the investigation of resistance genes, <i>tetA, qnrS</i> and <i>qnrB</i> genes were detected in three, one and eight isolates, respectively. Our results emphasize the importance of constant surveillance and control of the quality of water supplies.