Investigation of multiple resistance frequencies (antibiotic and heavy metal) of bacteria isolated from Gökçeada Island coastal marine sediment

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Marine sediments are important reservoirs for antibiotics and heavy metals. Bacteria play a key role in polluted sedimentary habitats. This study aimed to identify heavy metal and antibiotic resistance in marine sediment bacteria isolated from Gökçeada Island in Turkiye. The samples were collected seasonally from 10 different sampling stations in 2015. Ninety isolates determined by VITEK 2 were tested against seven antibiotics using the disk diffusion method. The minimum inhibitory concentration values were measured against four heavy metal salts. The antibiotic resistance frequency rates were ordered as sulphonamides compound (93.3%), cefotaxime (78.9), ampicillin (77.8%), oxacillin (67.8%), rifampicin (57.8%), imipenem (1.1%), and oxytetracycline (0%). The heavy metal resistance ratios against ZnCl2, CuSO4, Pb(CH3COO)2, and HgCl2 were measured as 100%, 100%, 96.7%, and 73.3% respectively. The multiple heavy metal resistance index values were ranged from 0.75 (22.2%) to 1.0 (77.8%). The results show significant heavy metal and antibiotic contamination in the sediments of the Gökçeada Island. It is recommended that measures be taken against antibiotics and heavy metal pollution, as well as identifying and monitoring critical control points.