Exploring the potential reservoirs of non specific TEM beta lactamase (blaTEM) gene in the Indo-Gangetic region : a risk assessment approach to predict health hazards

Abstract

The emergence of antimicrobial resistant bacteria is an important public health and environ-mental contamination issue. Antimicrobials of -lactam group accounts for approximately two thirds, by weight, of all antimicrobials administered to humans due to high clinical efficacy and low toxicity. This study explores -lactam resistance determinant gene (blaTEM) as emerging con-taminant in Indo-Gangetic region using qPCR in molecular beacon format. Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment (QMRA) approach was adopted to predict risk to human health associated with consumption/exposure of surface water, potable water and street foods contaminated with bac-teria having blaTEM gene. It was observed that surface water and sediments of the river Ganga and Gomti showed high numbers of blaTEM gene copies and varied significantly (p < 0.05) among the sampling locations. The potable water collected from drinking water facility and clinical set-tings exhibit significant number of blaTEM gene copies (13 ± 0.44–10200 ± 316 gene copies/100 mL).