Screening of heavy metal and antibiotic resistance among Proteus vulgaris isolates from hospital wastewater of Northern India
Background: Microbial resistance to antibiotics and heavy metals is a rising problem in the world today. All the Proteus vulgaris isolates showed their MIC in between 50-1600 µg/ml. Of 70% and 46% of the isolates showed their MIC at 800-1200 µg/ml against Zn2+ and Cu2+ while 80% of the isolates showed their MIC at 100-200 µg/ml against Ni2+, respectively. All Proteus vulgaris isolates also exhibited multiple resistance patterns (2-7 heavy metals) in different combination of metals. The Multi metal resistance Index (MHMR) ranges were found (0.04-0.5). Methods: A high level of antibiotics resistance was observed against Methicillin (100%) and least to Oflaxicin (6%), Gentamycine and Neomycin (10%). All Proteus vulgaris isolates also showed multiple drug resistance patterns (2-12 antibiotics) in different combination of antibiotics. The MAR index ranges were found (0.02-0.7). Of 98%, 84% and 80% of the total isolates showed urease, gelatinase and amylase activity. Results: The Proteus vulgaris isolates contained plasmid of size ranging from 42.5 to 57.0kb and molecular weight of plasmids ranged from 27.2 to 37.0 MD. Incidences of resistance transfer, 7 pairs of isolates were assessed for the transfer of the antibiotic/ heavy metal resistance markers. The higher (4.4x10-1 and 3.4x10-1) transfer frequency was observed among antibiotic and heavy metal while lower transfer frequency were (5.0x10-2 and 1.0x10-2) showed against antibiotic and heavy metal in both the medium from the entire site tested, respectively. Conclusion: Indicating the high threat of environmental pollution and appearance of heavy metal resistance which may support the enlargement of resistance to antibiotics among the pathogens.