A silent finding in Guaíba sounded the alarm for science and placed Porto Alegre at the center of a worrying investigation: dangerous bacteria defies 14 antibiotics, intrigues UFRGS researchers, appears on the capital’s beaches, and raises suspicions about hospital waste in the sewage.

Published on 12/05/2026 at 16:00

Updated on 12/05/2026 at 16:01

Microorganism recognized by researchers from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul on seashores, factors of Guaíba and close to EBAP Menino Deus confirmed excessive resistance to essential antibiotics, expanded the environmental alert in Porto Alegre and raised suspicions about potential improper disposal of hospital waste in the sewage system of the gaucho capital

A bacterium of excessive scientific relevance appeared in water samples collected in Porto Alegre and reignited the alert about antibiotic resistance in Guaíba.

Researchers from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul recognized Acinetobacter baumannii at 4 factors in the gaucho capital, inside the ClimaRes WaSH and CLIMASANO initiatives.

The most regarding case includes a pattern taken close to the Menino Deus Stormwater Pumping Station, in Guaíba.

At this level, the bacterium resisted all 14 antibiotics examined, together with medicines used towards extreme bacterial infections.

Technical evaluation identifies bacteria at factors in Guaíba

UFRGS researchers performed the investigation and analyzed samples from Lami seashore, Ipanema seashore, and two factors in Guaíba.

Microorganisms had been additionally recognized close to the mouth of the Dilúvio Stream and in the neighborhood of EBAP Menino Deus.

According to the evaluation, the EBAP Menino Deus pattern offered the most important state of affairs.

At this location, the bacterium utterly resisted the antimicrobials evaluated, together with imipenem, meropenem, ciprofloxacin, and ceftazidime.

At the different factors evaluated, the isolates additionally resisted completely different antibiotics used in the therapy of bacterial infections.

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Why Acinetobacter baumannii worries researchers

Acinetobacter baumannii worries specialists as a result of it may resist medicines used in essential remedies.

In 2024, the World Health Organization included this microorganism on the listing of the world’s most dangerous bacteria.

This classification considers the excessive potential for antimicrobial resistance and the related danger to public well being.

Therefore, the presence of the bacterium in environmental areas of Porto Alegre reinforces researchers’ concern.

The finding additionally broadens the debate about potential improper disposal of waste linked to the sewage system.

Antibiotic resistance raises alert in Porto Alegre

The resistance discovered in the samples is regarding as a result of it includes essential antibiotics towards bacterial infections.

In the pattern close to EBAP Menino Deus, the analyzed isolate didn’t reply to the 14 antimicrobials examined.

According to researchers, this outcome requires additional investigation.

Thus, the group intends to grasp the mechanisms that specify the resistance discovered in the samples.

Genomic sequencing will likely be the subsequent step

Now, researchers will carry out the genomic sequencing of the samples collected in Porto Alegre.

With this, the group will search to determine the resistance mechanisms current in the bacteria.

Scientists additionally intend to research a potential genetic relationship with strains discovered throughout an outbreak recorded in April.

This outbreak occurred in the neonatal ICU of Hospital Fêmina, additionally in Porto Alegre.

Genetic comparability might point out whether or not there may be a hyperlink between environmental strains and these recognized in the hospital setting.

Hypothesis includes hospital waste in sewage

The group accountable for the research raises the disposal of hospital waste into the sewage system with out satisfactory therapy as the primary speculation.

According to researchers, this chance will proceed to be investigated in the subsequent phases of the evaluation.

Even so, the finding already exhibits the significance of monitoring resistant bacteria in city environments.

After all, the identification of Acinetobacter baumannii in Guaíba exhibits how antimicrobial resistance can transcend the hospital setting.

Should Porto Alegre develop environmental monitoring to grasp the origin of this bacterium or prioritize the investigation of hospital waste?