Antibiotic-Resistant "Priority Pathogens" found in Yamuna Water

• A research paper from Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, has shown that the river Yamuna sheltered some of the critical group, multidrug-resistant bacteria that a World Health Organisation (WHO) report had red-flagged in 2017.

Key Findings

• The team found bacteria that produces Extended-spectrum Beta-lactamases - enzymes that help bacteria resist many commonly-used antibiotics, across 20 major sewer drains and Yamuna River.
• Gene study showed the presence of resistance genes such as β-lactamases genes and carbapenemase in the studied samples.
• The team also noted the possibility of rapid proliferation of various antibiotic resistance genes among different bacteria through horizontal gene transfer.