TABLE OF CONTENT

1.1 INTRODUCTION

Ground water from wells, remains a major source of water for various uses in South West
Region. Water is an important source that is prone to bacteria contamination from a variety
of host including Mammals and other species. The rapid expansion of Buea City has led to
residents relying on ground water to supply them with portable water. Drinking water
comes from ground water. Ground water is carried from wells that are drilled into aquifers.

However, poor sanitation in Buea makes the availability of safe water almost unattainable,
this is due to bacteria and chemical contamination. Water-borne diseases are one of the
major Public health problem in Buea.In Buea , most people have no safe drinking water,
while some also have no adequate sanitation. This lead to water-borne, related diseases (
e.g. Cholera, Typhoid, Malaria, Yellow fever, sleeping sickness, Diarrhea). Buea experience
water shortage.

Hand-dug wells are dug near toilets and Septic pits which lead to Outbreak of Cholera and
dysentery occur during raining seasons and short after the rains. Exchange of microbes
between wells and toilet or septic Pits. However, ground water forms an important source
of water for Buea and it’s environs.

This study intends to Isolate Escherichia coli pathogens and possible factors associated
with well water contamination in Buea and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing.

1.2 LITERATURE REVIEW

Escherichia coli are widely distributed in the gastro-intestine tract of humans and other
organisms, where they are known to live as commensals. They are gram negative
facultative anaerobic bacteria. They are also from the family Enterobacteriacea and are
lactose fermenters.

Escherichia coli have been isolated from water and environmental samples some of which
have been responsible for illnesses ( Cholera, Typhoid).

1.2.1 General characteristics of E.coli

✓ They are Gram negative bacteria.

✓ Have a rod-shaped.
✓ Non – spore forming.
✓ They are facultative anaerobes
✓ Grow in MacConkey agar.
 1.2 PATHOGENESIS
✓ Colonization of Mucosal site
✓ Evasion of host defenses
✓ Multiplication and host damage

1.2.1 Virulent factors

• Adhesion
• Toxins
• Polysaccharide capsules
• Invasin
Which are usually encoded on plasmid.

1.2.2 Risk factors

✓ Age: young children and other adults are at high risk of experiencing illness caused
by E.coli and more serious complications from the infection
✓ Drinking certain types of water that contain E.coli and other bacteria.

1.2.3 Laboratory Diagnosis, Treatment, Prevention and Control

• Diagnosis
-Stool sample collected and tested in the laboratory for the presence of
E.coli bacteria.
-Bacteria maybe cultured to confirm the diagnosis and identify specific
toxins such as those that are produced by E.col.

• Treatment

Treatment includes ;

✓ IV fluids
✓ Blood transfusion
✓ Kidney dialysis

• Prevention
➢ Always wash your hands
➢ Be careful when dealing with water and animals
➢ Avoid unpasteurized beverages
• Control
➢ Do not drink untreated water
➢ Practice good sanitation
➢ Environmental control

2.1 STATEMENT PROBLEMS

Contamination of water sources with E.coli is a great public health challenge,
which indicate, coliforms and fecal contamination of water and other pathogens
which causes water-borne related diseases ( Cholera, Typhoid)
This turn to highlight the need of investigation and assessment of Factors
distance between pit latrines/ septic pits and water sources and it’s effects on
contamination of this source of water, poor water quality and sanitation.
However, this project seek to Isolate E.coli from hand dug wells and
Antimicrobial susceptibility testing.

2.1.1 General Objective

➢ Isolation of E.coli from Hand-dug wells and Antimicrobial Susceptibility

Testing

2.1.2 Specific objectives

• Isolation of E.coli
• Isolation of the Isolates
• Determination of the Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing

2.2 MATERIAL AND METHODS

❖ Materials
• Petri-dishes
• MacConkey agar
• Test-tubes
• Antibiotics ( Ciprofloxacin, Ceftriaxone, Chloramphenicol)
• Well water
• Alcohol
• Bunsen burner
• Distilled water
• Measuring cylinder
• Tissues
 • Syringe
• Stirring rod
• Microscope
• Autoclave

❖ Methods
• Sample collection

✓ Water sample (200ml) were collected from the wells ( 10 wells) using
sterile water collection labeled bottles .
✓ For water that had been treated with Chlorine, 5% sodium thiosulfate was
added to the sterile bottles to neutralize the Chlorine.
✓ The bottles were placed in a cool box and transported to the laboratory
for processing.
✓ At the site of collection, a questionnaire was administered to assess and
determine the risk factors.

3.1 Detail Budget

1) MacConkey agar = 20,000
2) Antibiotics = 25,000
3)Petri-dishes = 6,000
4) Glass slide = 1,000
5) Gloves = 5,000
6) Sterile loop= 1,000
7) Cotton wool = 3,000
8) Printing = 10,000
9) syringe = 500
10) Alcohol= 2,000
11) Distilled water=2,000
12) Transportation = 5,000
TOTAL = 82,750 F

3.2 Timeline
This Research will be carryout within the space of three Months.

3.5References
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