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Title
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COASTAL WATERS UNDER THE MICROSCOPE: SPATIAL
CONTAMINATION AND ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE IN
BARRA, TUDELA
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Author(s)
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FEBIE JOY, BUHANGIN R.
ZYVIL PRINCESS, CABASIS S.
CARBIE, SIMBAJON O.
DOREEN, TACTACON D.
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Affiliation
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MISAMIS UNIVERSITY
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Degree Program
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Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology
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Contributor
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VILLANTES, YUNALYN L. MSc Bio PhD
ENGUITO, MARIE ROSELLYNN MSc Bio
ATTY. AWA, ANTHONY MSc Bio, LPT
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Year
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2026
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Abstract
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Coastal waters are increasingly threatened by microbial contamination and antimicrobial resistance resulting from anthropogenic activities and inadequate sanitation practices. This study investigated the occurrence of Escherichia coli and Vibrio spp. and evaluated their antimicrobial susceptibility profiles in the coastal waters of Barangay Barra, Tudela, Misamis Occidental. Water samples were collected monthly from February to April 2026 across nine sampling stations located along the shoreline, 50 m offshore, and 100 m offshore. Standard microbiological techniques were employed for bacterial isolation and identification, while antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion method. Results demonstrated markedly higher bacterial contamination in nearshore stations, where E. coli counts were recorded as Too Numerous To Count (TNTC), with bacterial density progressively decreasing offshore. Vibrio spp. counts ranged from 55 ± 18.7 to 159 ± 15.0 CFU/mL, corresponding to 6.72 ± 0.17 to 7.20 ± 0.04 log10 CFU/mL. Significant spatial differences in microbial contamination were observed among sampling stations (Kruskal–Wallis: H = 36.12, p = 8.4 × 10−6 for EMB counts; H = 38.53, p = 6.01 × 10−6 for Vibrio spp.). Antimicrobial susceptibility testing revealed high resistance to ampicillin in both bacterial groups, whereas ciprofloxacin demonstrated the greatest antibacterial activity against the isolates. The findings indicate persistent microbial contamination and the presence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the coastal waters of Barangay Barra, emphasizing the need for continuous microbial surveillance, improved sanitation practices, and strengthened coastal environmental management to protect public health.
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Keywords
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antimicrobial resistance, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, coastal water quality,
Escherichia coli, Vibrio spp.
