Determination of antibiotic and heavy metal resistance and plasmid profile of bacteria in Iskenderun bay

In this study, resistance levels to antibiotic and heavy metal of isolated bacteria from Iskenderun Bay and their plasmid profile was determined.Total of 356 Gr (-) bacteria was isolated from water samples collected from three different areas of Iskenderun Bay and this isolates were identified with VITEK II System as 21 different species.The highest antibiotic resistance belonged to first and third stations, 94,9% of isolates was determined resistance to erythromycin. MAR index values of isolates collected from all stations were generally higher than 0,2 being 94,9% station first, 75,4 station third and 37,1% station second.The lowest resistance level was determined for lead (67,7%) while all of isolates were found resistant to cadmium and copper.It was concluded that Iskenderun Bay was polluted by domestic wastes, factory wastes and commercial ship wastes, which have negative effects to both ecosystem and human health.