Comparison of the Antibiograms of Bacteria Isolated From Polluted & Non Polluted Soil

Antibiograms

• An antibiogram consists of a series of results from a laboratory tests. Results displayed in an antibiogram indicate the sensitivity of isolated bacterial strains to a number of different antibiotics. Antibiograms help scientists determine the most effective means of killing or nullifying the threat of a specific type of antibiograms. Scientists regularly produce antibiograms for common bacteria found in soil and water supplies to determine means of preventing the bacteria from entering human food and water sources.

Bacteria, Soil and Pollution

• By definition, antibiograms provide results for isolated tests. An isolated test takes the bacteria out of its source material and exposes it to various antibiotics in an otherwise sterile environment. Therefore, the results shown on the antibiogram for a specific type of bacterial reflects only the susceptibility of the bacteria to antibiotics, not the affects of soil on the relationship between the antibiotics and bacteria. Ostensibly, antibiograms showing results for two identical strains of bacteria should display identical results, regardless of the source of the bacteria.

Comparison Benefits

• Comparing the results of antibiograms of bacteria isolated from polluted and non-polluted soils provides a variety of benefits. The antibiograms should display the different types of bacteria that show up in polluted vs. non-polluted soils, and how best to rid each type of soil of the bacteria using antibiotics. If the same type of bacteria turns up on each antibiogram, but the bacteria exhibits different sensitivities to antibiotics based on its source of origin, the soil must somehow alter the make up of the bacteria, since the antibiogram measures isolated bacteria, away from environmental factors such as soil type. Differing results for the same bacteria can help scientists determine how and why bacteria mutates when exposed to pollution.

Comparison Context

• Comparisons of antibiograms for bacteria from polluted and non-polluted soils only provide benefit if taken in a certain context. For instance, a comparison of non-polluted coastal soils from California and New Jersey shows the differences of bacteria type and antibiotic sensitivity based on geography. However, a comparison of non-polluted coastal soils from California and polluted coastal soils from New Jersey provides little valuable information because there is no base point of reference – you cannot tell from these results how pollution, and not geography, affects the results displayed on the antibiogram.