Research Article
Assessment of Antibiotic-resistant Bacteria in Hospital Waste Water Effluents from a Tertiary Hospital in Abakaliki, Nigeria
Elom Ugochukwu Okpo,
Edeson Lucy Ogayi,
Amaechi-Nnaji Victoria Obumneme,
Odo Ikechukwu Ituma,
Agumah Nnabuife Bernard*
,
Iroha Ifeanyi Romanus
Issue:
Volume 12, Issue 2, June 2026
Pages:
26-33
Received:
28 September 2025
Accepted:
13 April 2026
Published:
16 May 2026
DOI:
10.11648/j.bs.20261202.11
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Abstract: The study was carried out with an aim to isolate, characterize and determine the antibiotics resistance pattern of bacteria isolated from a tertiary hospital in Abakaliki. Waste water effluents were collected from various units of the Alex Ekwueme University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki and analysed at the Applied Microbiology Laboratory unit of the Ebonyi State University Abakaliki using standard microbiology techniques. Susceptibility of the bacterial isolates to various classes of antibiotics was determined by disc diffusion method. Production of Extended spectrum beta lactamase was determined by the double disc synergy method and the presence methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus was determined using Cefoxitin and methicillin disc diffusion method. Our findings showed that Escherichia coli had the highest frequency of bacterial occurence (43.24%) followed by S. aureus (40.54%), Klebsiella (8.11%) and Campylobacter (8.11%). Waste water effluents from the ward complex had the highest distribution of bacteria isolates (40.54%) followed by effluents from the laboratory complex. Effluents from the theatre had the least distribution (2.70%). Out of 15 S. aureus isolates obtained from this study, 46.66% (7) were MRSA positive while out of 16 E. coli isolated from this study, 31.25% (5) were positive for ESBL production. Multi-antibiotic resistance index of S. aureus showed the highest values to be from the ward complex (1.00) and laboratory complex (0.29). Multi-antibiotic resistance index of Campylobacter species showed the highest values to be from the ward complex (0.75) and the least from laboratory complex (0.50) and that of Klebsiella species showed the highest values to be from accident/emergency (0.88) and the least from the ward complex (0.63). Multi-antibiotic resistance index of E. coli showed the highest values to be from the ward complex and laboratory complex (1.00). The presence of antimicrobial resistant bacteria from hospital wastewaters showed the spreading of AMR bacteria into the environmental through wastewater. The presence of high MDR bacteria in hospital wastewater may impose public health challenges because they can transmit resistance traits to other enteric pathogenic bacteria in the community.
Abstract: The study was carried out with an aim to isolate, characterize and determine the antibiotics resistance pattern of bacteria isolated from a tertiary hospital in Abakaliki. Waste water effluents were collected from various units of the Alex Ekwueme University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki and analysed at the Applied Microbiology Laboratory unit of th...
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