摘要：

This study investigated the antibiotic resistance of enteric bacteria and their association with environmental factors in a coastal area of the Caribbean Sea. Seawater and oyster samples were collected during rainy and dry seasons. Faecal indicators of seawater fulfilled international standards, except for enterococci during dry season, while in oysters were above 800 MPN/g tissue. Different cultural methods were used to isolate enteric bacteria, further identified by biochemical tests for species of the genera Escherichia, Providencia, Kluyvera, Citrobacter, Morganella, Klebsiella and Enterococcus . A total of 21 isolates presented multiple antibiotic resistances at least to five antibiotics, with higher resistance for Enterococcus durans against 20 antibiotics tested (20/20), followed by Escherichia coli (9/20). Enteric bacteria isolated from any sample source during the rainy season presented the highest antimicrobial resistance to penicillins and cephalosporins. This is the first report of multiple antibiotic resistances in enteric environmental isolates at the Caribbean Sea. This coastal environment might serve as a reservoir of antibiotic resistant bacteria and might represent public health risks associated with the use of recreational waters and the consumption of raw seafood.

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