Investigation of Bacteriophages Isolated from Local Kamloops Water Sources for Potential Antimicrobial Activity against methicillin-resistant S. aureus and Antibiotic-resistant E. coli

Bacteriophages are bacterial viruses. They are highly specific to their target hosts, allowing phage therapy to be a viable alternative to antibiotics for the treatment of bacterial infections. In this study, water samples from the Kamloops Wastewater Treatment Centre, Domtar Pulp Mill, and Thompson Rivers were screened for bacteriophages targeting two strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, three strains of antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli (E. coli), and an antibiotic resistant strain of Mycobacterium smegmatis. Bacteriophages targeting a medically important, carbapenamase producing E. coli strain were found in water collected from the Kamloops Wastewater Treatment Centre. Bacterial infections caused by carbapenamase producers are extremely difficult to treat, as these bacteria are resistant to all beta-lactam antibiotics as well as many other antibiotics. The results show that bacteriophages targeting antibiotic-resistant bacteria can be found and isolated from environmental samples. Screening is being continued with water and soil samples collected from local British Columbia caves