Antibacterial Resistance in Soil Bacteria: Comparative Study of Ampicillin, Ciprofloxacin, Levofloxacin Resistance and Its Ecological and Public Implications

Abstract

The present study was aimed to conduct a comparative study on the bacterial resistance of soil bacteria isolated from urine contaminated soil samples against three antibiotics: ampicillin, ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin and to evaluate the ecological and public health implications if the findings. Anti-bacterial agents are molecules that kill or stop the growth of bacteria. Antibacterial resistance is a phenomenon where bacteria evolve to survive exposure to antibiotics. Staining techniques and Agar well diffusion microbial assays were conducted to analyze the morphology of bacteria and to estimate the zone of inhibition by treating with three specific antibiotics that are Ampicillin, Ciprofloxacin and Levofloxacin. The study revealed varying levels of bacterial resistance to antibiotics, with Ampicillin showing lower inhibition zones and thus less activity against bacteria from urinated soil compared to Ciprofloxacin and Levofloxacin, which exhibited larger inhibition zones. This suggests soil bacteria are more resistant to ampicillin, likely due to protective mechanisms in Gram-negative bacteria and potential beta-lactamase production or altered PBPs in Gram-positive bacteria. These findings emphasize the need for thorough antibiotic susceptibility testing to select effective treatments and manage resistance. Future studies should explore the genetic basis of resistance, focusing on beta-lactamase genes or target site mutations. The results can guide the development of new antibiotics or adjuvants to overcome identified resistance mechanisms.