Laura Atkinson

• BSc (Hons) Physiological Sciences
• Evaluation of Extended Spectrum β-Lactamases (ESBL) and Carbapenem Resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) in the local domestic wastewater of Johor Bahru, Malaysia.

Wastewater treatment is expensive and infrequent in areas of Malaysia. Agricultural water run-off and sewage outlet waste feeds into rivers. Antibiotic distribution is less regulated than in the UK, resulting in higher proportions of antibiotic use which ultimately results in a build-up of antibiotics in water sources. The associated low levels of waterborne antibiotics can cause an increase in antibiotic resistance in bacteria which survive in aquatic environments. These resistant bacteria can then end up infecting the local population.

In a collaborative project using engineering and bioscience, the microbial agents present in river water will be identified prior to water treatment then after water treatment. The aim of the project is to determine if the treatment plant is effective in reducing infectious agents, and determining the level of antibiotic resistance in strains present in the river water.

Funding source: Newcastle University

Supervisor: Dr Roshan Mascarenhas