Honors Theses
Date of Award
Spring 5-7-2026
Document Type
Undergraduate Thesis
Department
Allied Health Studies
First Advisor
Colin Jackson
Second Advisor
Peter Zee
Third Advisor
Jonathan Lopez
Relational Format
Dissertation/Thesis
Abstract
The Mississippi Gulf Coast is an important resource for transportation, economic development, and recreation. Given its economic and cultural importance, it is crucial to maintain clean and safe conditions along the coast for public health, but other than routine beach monitoring, few studies have examined microbial contamination of coastal waters in this region. This study aimed to determine the quantity, composition, and distribution of bacteria resistant to six different antibiotics (Vancomycin, Kanamycin, Tetracycline, Ciprofloxacin, Erythromycin, or Amoxicillin) in seawater at seven public beaches along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. No bacteria resistant to Ciprofloxacin were detected, and bacteria resistant to Kanamycin or Tetracycline were found at just a single beach each. However, bacteria resistant to the other four antibiotics were found at all seven beaches sampled, and included diverse culturable taxa, some with the possibility of multi-drug resistance. While counts of antibiotic-resistant bacteria were generally less than those of culturable bacteria overall, the presence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in these coastal waters suggests a potential risk to public health for individuals attending these beaches.
Recommended Citation
Martin, Marisa and Jackson, Colin, "Community Composition of Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria on the Mississippi Gulf Coast" (2026). Honors Theses. 3467.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/hon_thesis/3467