Identification and ß-lactam resistance in aquatic isolates of Enterobacter cloacae and their status in microbiota of Domica Cave in Slovak Karst (Slovakia)

A study of Domica Cave, part of the UNESCO-listed Aggtelek Karst and Slovak Karst, reveals that Enterobacter cloacae, a bacterium typically associated with fecal contamination, is likely an autochthonous component of the cave's microbiota. Researchers analyzed 36 isolates of E. cloacae from the cave's water samples, finding widespread resistance to β-lactam antibiotics, including multi-drug resistance in some cases. The study suggests that long-term agricultural activities near the cave may have contributed to this resistance, raising concerns about the impact on the cave's conserved microbial ecosystem. The research employed molecular techniques to identify resistance genes (blaTEM, blaSHV, and blaCTX-M), correlating them with antibiotic resistance patterns.

Gaálová, B., Donauerová, A., Seman, M., & Bujdáková, H. (2014). Identification and ß-lactam resistance in aquatic isolates of Enterobacter cloacae and their status in microbiota of Domica Cave in Slovak Karst (Slovakia). International Journal of Speleology, 43(1), 69–77. https://doi.org/10.5038/1827-806x.43.1.7