Protocol of A Study of Antibiotic and Metal Residues, Antibiotic Resistance and Resistance Genes, in the River ‘Kshipra’- Associated with Religious Mass  Bathing  event ‘KUMBH MELA’  in India

Dr. Ashok J. Tamhankar

Protocols of studies undertaken by researchers are not generally published from India. 

Mahadik, Cecilia Stålsby Lundborg and Ashok J. Tamhankar affiliated to R.D. Gardi Medical college   Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh and Karolinska Institutet at Stockholm in Sweden recently published the protocol for a three year study for detecting Our research group consisting of Drs. Vishal Diwan , ManjuPurohit, SaleshChandran, VivekParashar, Harshada Shah, Vijay Antibiotic and Metal Residues, Antibiotic Resistance and Resistance Genes, from the river Kshipra flowing through Ujjain city which is  famous for its religious mass bathing events particularly the KUMBH MELA which is held every twelve years. We took advantage of the  KUMBH MELA event that occurred in 2016 and conducted studies during that time. 

Antibiotic resistance  has been declared by the WHO as a major health emergency of the 21^st century for the global society. Little is known about the Antibiotic resistance  of environmental bacteria and therefore it is important to understand Antibiotic resistance  reservoirs in the environment and their potential impact on health. We have therefore undertaken a study involving Quantitative and qualitative methods for data collection for a 3-year period, of the Kshipra river that is associated with religious mass-bathing in Central India. Surface-water and sediment samples are being collected from seven locations at regular intervals for to monitor water-quality, antibiotic and metals residues, resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes. The results will address the issue of antibiotic residues and antibiotic resistance with a focus on river environment in India within a typical socio-behavioural context of religious mass-bathing. It will enhance our understanding about the relationship between antibiotic and heavy metal residue levels, water-quality, and antibiotic resistance patterns in Escherichia coli isolated from river-water and sediment, that are associated with seasonal differences and religious mass-bathing. We will also document, identify and clarify the genetic differences/similarities relating to phenotypic antibiotic resistance in bacteria, the resistance genes in circulation in the river during religious mass-bathing or during periods when there is no mass-bathing.