Abstract:
Diseases are the worst enemy to man currently. This study aimed at isolating pathogenic
bacteria from shallow wells in Dundori Kenya and testing the isolates for sensitivity to
antibiotic metabolites previously extracted from Actinomycetes isolates from soils of
Egerton University. Water samples were collected from shallow wells randomly
selected from Dundori and labelled A, B, C, D, and E. Bacterial pathogens were isolated
using membrane filtration technique. The isolates were characterized using biochemical
means. Antimicrobial sensitivity testing was carried out using Kirby Bauer disk
diffusion method. Data analysis was carried out using the Statistical Package for Social
Sciences (SPSS). Comparison of means was carried out using one-way ANOVA. Shallow
wells B, D and E were highly contaminated with pathogenic bacteria. Biochemical
characterization of the isolates indicated that the most common isolates were Vibrio
cholera, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus sp, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus. There
was no significant difference between the zones of inhibition produced by the antibiotic
metabolites (F=2.149 P=1340) when tested against the test isolates. There were no
significant differences between the MIC›s of the antibiotic metabolites on the bacterial
pathogens (F=2.01 P=0.15). Water from some shallow wells in Dundori is highly
contaminated with Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Proteus sp., Vibrio cholerae and
Staphylococcus aureus. The pathogens were effectively controlled using antibiotics from
the Actinomycetes. There is a need to sensitize the residents of the study area on ways
of preventing seepage of contaminants into the shallow wells.
