The association between antimicrobials and the antimicrobial-resistant phenotypes and resistance genes of Escherichia coli isolated from hospital wastewaters and adjacent surface waters in Sri Lanka

The presence of antimicrobials, antimicrobial-resistant bacteria (ARB), and the associated antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) in environment is a global health concern. In this study, concentrations 25 Escherichia coli (E. coli) strains response to selection pressure imposed by 15 enrichment 20 ARGs E. isolated from hospital wastewaters surface waters were investigated 2016 2018. wastewaters, clarithromycin was detected at highest concentration followed sulfamethoxazole sulfapyridine. Approximately 80% isolates resistant, while 14% exhibited intermediate against tested agents. 61% examined categorized as multidrug-resistant bacteria. overall abundance phenotypes that resistant toward drugs following order: ?-lactams, tetracycline, quinolones, sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim, aminoglycosides, chloramphenicol. data showed frequently harbored blaTEM, blaCTX-M, tetA, qnrS, sul2. These results indicated personal care products significantly with several genes, implying their role co-association multidrug resistance. Statistical analysis also disparity specific site, treatment, year describing prevalence ARB release into downstream waters. This study provides novel insights antimicrobial, Sri Lanka, could further offer invaluable information can be integrated databases.