Screening of Antimicrobial Resistance in Bacterial Isolates from Red Sea Coast in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Objectives: Antibiotic resistance is a major public health problem worldwide. There is little data on the incidence, sources, and importance of antibiotic-resistant bacteria on the Red Sea coast of Jeddah. This study aims to identify drug-resistant microbes found on the Red Sea coast in Jeddah and to screen their resistance profile against different antibiotics.

Methodology: Forty-eight samples were obtained from different locations on the Red Sea coast in Jeddah. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests were performed against the following antibiotic discs (Oxoid): cefotaxime (CTX) (30g); meropenem (MEM) (10g); gentamicin (CN) (10g) and chloramphenicol (C) (30g).

Results: The isolates showed resistance to Gentamicin 10 mcg (39.47%; 15/38), Cefotaxime 30 mcg (18.42%; 7/38), Meropenem 10 mcg (0%; 0/38) and Chloramphenicol 30 mcg (5.26%; 2/38).

Conclusion: From this study there is a high resistance rate to cefotaxime, chloramphenicol and gentamicin 39%. This research has substantiated the existence of a substantial prevalence of resistance to various microbial agents within our environment, specifically within the Red Sea in Jeddah. We propose conducting future studies across diverse geographic regions, utilizing extensive sample sizes, to gain a deeper insight into the potential impact of environmental factors and pollution on the propagation of drug-resistant bacteria. Additionally, the identification of these bacterial strains is essential for understanding their characteristics and devising strategies to combat them effectively, thereby assisting in curtailing their proliferation.