ADVANCES IN MOLECULAR DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES FOR DETECTING ANTIBIOTIC-RESISTANT BACTERIA IN WATER SOURCES: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Introduction:

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) in water sources show a growing public health concern due to their role in spreading antimicrobial resistance through environmental and human exposure pathways. Rapid and accurate detection of ARB is important for water quality monitoring and disease prevention. Molecular diagnostic techniques have emerged as sensitive and reliable tools for identifying resistance genes and resistant pathogens in aquatic environments. This systematic review evaluates recent advances in molecular diagnostic methods used for detecting ARB in water sources and their implications for environmental and public health surveillance.

Methods:

Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, a systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar for studies published between 2005 and 2025. Search terms included “antibiotic-resistant bacteria,” “molecular diagnostics,” “water sources,” “PCR,” “metagenomics,” and “antimicrobial resistance.” From 210 identified records, 168 remained after duplicate removal. Following screening and eligibility assessment, 28 studies met the inclusion criteria for qualitative synthesis.

Results:

Among the 28 studies, 24 reported high efficiency of molecular diagnostic techniques in detecting antibiotic-resistant bacteria in water sources. PCR was the most commonly used method (18 studies), followed by qPCR (15) and metagenomic sequencing (10). Frequently detected resistance genes included bla (16), mecA (11), tet (13), and sul genes (9). Rivers, wastewater, and drinking water systems were the major water sources investigated. Molecular techniques showed greater sensitivity and faster detection than conventional culture-based methods. Untreated wastewater, hospital effluents, and agricultural runoff were identified as major contributors to the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in aquatic environments.

Conclusions:

Advanced molecular diagnostic tools significantly improve the detection and surveillance of ARB in water environments. Integrating these techniques into routine monitoring programs can strengthen antimicrobial resistance control strategies and protect public health.