Risk factors for detection, survival, and growth of antibiotic-resistant and pathogenic Escherichia coli in household soils in rural Bangladesh

Soils in household environments in low- and middle-income countries may play an important role in the persistence, proliferation, and transmission of; Escherichia coli; Our goal was to investigate the risk factors for detection, survival, and growth of; E. coli; in soils collected from household plots.; E. coli; was enumerated in soil and fecal samples from humans, chickens, and cattle from 52 households in rural Bangladesh. Associations between; E. coli; concentrations in soil, household-level risk factors, and soil physicochemical characteristics were investigated. Susceptibility to 16 antibiotics and the presence of intestinal pathotypes were evaluated for 175; E. coli; isolates. The growth and survival of; E. coli; in microcosms using soil collected from the households were also assessed.; E. coli; was isolated from 44.2% of the soil samples, with an average of 1.95 log; 10; CFU/g dry soil. Soil moisture and clay content were associated with; E. coli; concentrations in soil, whereas no household-level risk factor was significantly correlated. Antibiotic resistance and pathogenicity were common among; E. coli; isolates, with 42.3% resistant to at least one antibiotic, 12.6% multidrug resistant (≥3 classes), and 10% potentially pathogenic. Soil microcosms demonstrate growth and/or survival of; E. coli; , including an enteropathogenic extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing isolate, in some, but not all, of the household soils tested. In rural Bangladesh, defined soil physicochemical characteristics appear more influential for; E. coli; detection in soils than household-level risk factors. Soils may act as reservoirs in the transmission of antibiotic-resistant and potentially pathogenic; E. coli; and therefore may impact the effectiveness of water, sanitation, and hygiene interventions.; IMPORTANCE; Soil may represent a direct source or act as an intermediary for the transmission of antibiotic-resistant and pathogenic; Escherichia coli; strains, particularly in low-income and rural settings. Thus, determining risk factors associated with detection, growth, and long-term survival of; E. coli; in soil environments is important for public health. Here, we demonstrate that household soils in rural Bangladesh are reservoirs for antibiotic-resistant and potentially pathogenic; E. coli; strains and can support; E. coli; growth and survival, and defined soil physicochemical characteristics are drivers of; E. coli; survival in this environment. In contrast, we found no evidence that household-level factors, including water, sanitation, and hygiene indicators, were associated with; E. coli; contamination of household soils.