Rivers and pools in Tungurahua- Ecuador, are contaminated with superbugs: an alarming reality

Abstract

Introduction:The pollution of both stagnant and flowing water bodies has emerged as a pressing threat to public health and ecosystems. Freshwater sources are increasingly degraded by unchecked biological, industrial, and agricultural waste, fostering the spread of multidrug-resistant bacteria—colloquially termed "superbugs." Among these, extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing strains are particularly alarming. Their resistance to first-line antibiotics complicates treatment of gastrointestinal, urinary, respiratory, and skin infections, driving rising morbidity and mortality rates across Tungurahua Province. This study aimed to detect superbugs in rivers and swimming pools throughout Tungurahua and evaluate their antimicrobial resistance patterns. 
Methodology:We conducted a descriptive field study combining qualitative and quantitative analyses. Water samples were collected from five rivers and twenty-five swimming pools using non-probabilistic sampling. 
Results:While fecal coliform levels in rivers complied with limits set by Ecuador’s TULSMA regulations, swimming pools consistently exceeded thresholds. ESBL-producing Klebsiella and E. coli were isolated from rivers, whereas pools harbored a broader range of resistant pathogens, including Escherichia coli, Klebsiella, Acinetobacter, and Pseudomonas. These bacteria demonstrated resistance to cephalosporins and aztreonam but retained susceptibility to carbapenems and aminoglycosides—a profile that underscores their public health risk. 
Conclusions: Our findings reveal severe ESBL-driven contamination in the Cutuchi, Ambato, Ulba, and Pachanlica Rivers, rendering them unsafe for recreation or aquatic life. Only the Verde River remained uncontaminated, supporting its continued use for human activities. Swimming pools, however, function as reservoirs for multidrug-resistant bacteria, threatening both public health and local tourism. Urgent interventions—including enhanced water quality monitoring and targeted public health policies—are needed to curb the spread of these pathogens and reduce infection rates.