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Antimicrobial Resistance in the Aconcagua River, Chile: Prevalence and Characterization of Resistant Bacteria in a Watershed Under High Anthropogenic Contamination Pressure

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dc.contributor.authorGonzález, Nicolás
dc.contributor.authorLira, Diego
dc.contributor.authorCovarrubia, Richard
dc.contributor.authorPlaza, Johan
dc.contributor.authorMunita, Jose M.
dc.contributor.authorCarter, Mauricio
dc.contributor.authorOlivares, Jorge
dc.date.accessioned2026-08-19T20:02:35Z
dc.date.available2026-08-19T20:02:35Z
dc.date.issued2025
dc.description.abstractBackground: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing global health concern, driven in part by the environmental release of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria (ARB) and antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs). Aquatic systems, particularly those exposed to urban, agricultural, and industrial activity, are recognized as hotspots for AMR evolution and transmission. In Chile, the Aconcagua River-subject to multiple anthropogenic pressures-offers a representative model for studying the environmental dimensions of AMR. Methods: Thirteen surface water samples were collected along the Aconcagua River basin in a single-day campaign to avoid temporal bias. Samples were filtered through 0.22 μm membranes and cultured on MacConkey agar, either unsupplemented or supplemented with ceftazidime (CAZ) or ciprofloxacin (CIP). Isolates were purified and identified using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Antibiotic susceptibility was evaluated using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method in accordance with CLSI guidelines. Carbapenemase activity was assessed using the Blue-Carba test, and PCR was employed for the detection of the blaVIM, blaKPC, blaNDM, and blaIMP genes. Results: A total of 104 bacterial morphotypes were isolated; 80 were identified at the species level, 5 were identified at the genus level, and 19 could not be taxonomically assigned using MALDI-TOF. Pseudomonas (40 isolates) and Aeromonas (25) were the predominant genera. No growth was observed on CIP plates, while 24 isolates were recovered from CAZ-supplemented media, 87.5% of which were resistant to aztreonam. Five isolates exhibited resistance to carbapenems; two tested positive for carbapenemase activity and carried the blaVIM gene. Conclusions: Our results confirm the presence of clinically significant resistance mechanisms, including blaVIM, in environmental Pseudomonas spp. from the Aconcagua River. These findings highlight the need for environmental AMR surveillance and reinforce the importance of adopting a One Health approach to antimicrobial stewardship and wastewater regulation.
dc.description.versionVersión Publicada
dc.identifier.citationGonzález-Rojas N, Lira-Velásquez D, Covarrubia-López R, Plaza-Sepúlveda J, Munita JM, Carter MJ, Olivares-Pacheco J. Antimicrobial Resistance in the Aconcagua River, Chile: Prevalence and Characterization of Resistant Bacteria in a Watershed Under High Anthropogenic Contamination Pressure. Antibiotics (Basel). 2025 Jul 2;14(7):669. doi: 10.3390/antibiotics14070669
dc.identifier.doihttps://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics14070669
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/11447/11024
dc.language.isoen
dc.subjectAconcagua river
dc.subjectEnvironmental Pseudomonas
dc.subjectOne Health
dc.subjectAntibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB)
dc.subjectblaVIM
dc.titleAntimicrobial Resistance in the Aconcagua River, Chile: Prevalence and Characterization of Resistant Bacteria in a Watershed Under High Anthropogenic Contamination Pressure
dc.typeArticle
dcterms.accessRightsAcceso Abierto
dcterms.sourceAntibiotics
dspace.entity.typePublication
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relation.isAuthorOfPublication.latestForDiscoveryec52b0bf-d0bc-4844-9531-eca4a65f2b8e

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