Prof. Harold Wilson Tumwitike Mapoma

Prof. Harold Wilson Tumwitike Mapoma

Co-author

Physics & Biochemical Sciences

31 publications

Besides teaching and consultancy, Prof. H.W.T. Mapoma has a great passion for research and skills gathering in Environmental Science and Sanitation. He has more than 10 years of teaching experience in environmental pollution and management, water resources management, hydrogeochemical studies, appli...

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Investigating Antibiotic Susceptibility of Pathogenic Micro-Organisms in Groundwater from Boreholes and Shallow Wells in T/A Makhwira, Chikwawa

Journal Article
Published 5 hours ago, 3 views
Author
Baleke Vinjeru Banda
Co-authors
Prof. Harold Wilson Tumwitike Mapoma
Abstract
Many rural communities in Malawi use groundwater from boreholes and shallow wells for drinking and cooking with limited or no treatment because it is considered as a safe source of water. The contamination of groundwater sources by antimicrobial resistant bacteria renders the water unsafe to use. This study investigated the antibiotic susceptibility of pathogenic micro-organisms isolated from groundwater sources in T/A Makhwira, Chikwawa. Water samples were collected from 13 boreholes and 7 protected shallow wells from T/A Makhwira, Chikwawa. E. coli, Salmonella enterica ssp. Arizona, K. pneumoniae, ESBL E. coli, and ESBL K. pneumoniae were detected in some water samples. Antibiotic susceptibility tests showed that the isolates had a high resistance to Ampicillin (42%), followed by Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (26%), Ciprofloxacin (21%), Doxycycline, and Amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (16%). The isolates had a very high sensitivity to Gentamicin (89%). The study revealed that the water from some boreholes and shallow wells in T/A Makhwira is highly contaminated and needs to be treated before consumption. Drinking untreated water from these sources could transfer antibiotic-resistant bacteria to humans because the groundwater may act as a vehicle for the transmission of these antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Year of Publication
2025
Journal Name
Microbiology Research
Volume
16
Issue
7
Page Numbers
1 - 11
Supporting Files
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