The occurrence of potential pathogenic antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the marine environment in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam

A concerning prevalence of antibiotic-resistant, potentially pathogenic bacteria was found in Ha Long Bay's marine environment, with 93.3% of sampling stations harboring such organisms. Dominant genera included Vibrio (29.3%), Pseudomonas (23.3%), and Staphylococcus (8.6%), while key pathogens like Vibrio alginolyticus (25 isolates) and Vibrioparahaemolyticus (5 isolates) showed high resistance to multiple antibiotics, including 100% resistance to amoxicillin and piperacillin. Over half of the isolates were multidrug-resistant, highlighting a significant threat to human health. The study analyzed 30 surface water samples from the bay, identifying 24 bacterial genera and 61 potential pathogens, emphasizing the need for genomic surveillance to mitigate the spread of resistant bacteria in this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Huy, N. Q., Trang, P. Q., Loi, N. T.,. (2024). The occurrence of potential pathogenic antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the marine environment in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam. Ministry of Science and Technology, Vietnam, 66(2), 101–106. https://doi.org/10.31276/vjste.66(2).101-106