Antibiotic Resistance Profiles of Aquatic and Human Pathogens: Implications for Disease Management and Public Health

Abstract

Aquaculture serves as a vital source of global protein but is increasingly threatened by infections caused by both aquatic and human bacterial pathogens present in aquaculture environments. This study evaluates the antibiotic resistance profiles of key aquatic pathogens including Aeromonas caviae, Edwardsiella tarda, Vibrio cholerae, and Aeromonas hydrophila, as well as human-associated pathogens such as Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus. Antibiotic susceptibility testing revealed widespread multidrug resistance among these bacteria, especially resistance to Methicillin, Oxacillin, Penicillin-G, and Erythromycin, significantly limiting treatment options. Despite this, antibiotics like Chloramphenicol and Ciprofloxacin demonstrated notable effectiveness against certain strains. The presence of multidrug-resistant human pathogens in aquaculture environments underscores the critical public health risks and highlights the potential for the transmission of resistant bacteria through the food chain. These findings emphasize the urgent need for prudent antibiotic stewardship, continuous surveillance, and integrated disease management practices to protect aquaculture productivity, environmental health, and human safety under a One Health framework.