Risk-Assessment Method to Forecast Health Hazards Correlated with Distribution of NDM-1 Gene in Waterbodies Surrounding Hyderabad, India

The development of pathogenic bacteria encompassing antibiotics-resistant genes (ARGs) is a severe environmental concern related to human health. Among all antibiotics administered to humans, the β-lactam group’s antibiotics account for two-thirds of the total weight due to its clinical effectiveness and low toxicity. This study investigated the abundance of gene NDM-1 (New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase-1) as an emerging contaminant in Hyderabad, India’s water bodies using a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). The quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) method was applied to forecast the human health risk linked to ingestion/subjection of surface water with bacteria containing the NDM-1 gene.

The findings of the occurrence of the NDM-1 gene containing bacteria in water bodies surrounding Hyderabad and its related risk will be valuable for developing strategies to safeguard the public from the threat of clinical risks correlated with the dissemination of NDM-1.