Hospital wastewater as a reservoir of multidrug resistance: Evidence from good Shepherd male and female hospital wards, Anyigba, Nigeria | ||
| Microbes and Infectious Diseases | ||
| Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 14 November 2025 | ||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/mid.2025.419444.3165 | ||
| Authors | ||
| Victor U Okpanachi* 1, 2; Joy Ojochogwu Jonah2; Marvelous Emurotu Olubunmi2; Marcus Joesph Abidemi3; Akeem G. Rabiu4; Nana Adwoa Akuffo Amoh-Asante1; January G. Msemakweli5; Victoria Unekwuojo Obochi6; Chibuzor Amaechi7 | ||
| 1Department of Community, Environment and Policy, The University of Arizona, Tucson, USA. | ||
| 2Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Natural sciences kogi State University Anyigba, Nigeria | ||
| 3Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, USA | ||
| 4Department of Microbiology, Federal University of Health Sciences, Ila-Orangun, Osun State, Nigeria. | ||
| 5Department of Epidemiology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA | ||
| 6Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, Faculty of Natural sciences kogi State University Anyigba, Nigeria | ||
| 7Department of Risk Management and Healthcare Administration, Ohio Dominican University, Columbus, OH, USA | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Background: Hospital wastewater is a recognized reservoir for antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB), but the contribution of ward-specific effluents to resistance dissemination remains poorly understood. Aim: This study aimed to assess and compare the bacterial composition and antibiotic resistance patterns in wastewater discharged from male and female hospital wards to evaluate their role as reservoirs of multidrug resistance (MDR). Methods: Ten wastewater samples each were collected from male and female wards using the grab sampling method. Samples were processed separately by ward, and bacterial isolates were identified using culture techniques, Gram staining, and standard biochemical tests. Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined using the disc diffusion method on Mueller Hinton agar, with results interpreted according to CLSI guidelines. Results: Viable bacterial counts at the 10⁻³ dilution were 8 × 10⁸ CFU/mL (male ward) and 9 × 10⁸ CFU/mL (female ward). At higher dilutions (10⁻⁶–10⁻⁸), counts ranged from 7 × 10⁶ to 6 × 10³ CFU/mL in male wards and 8 × 10⁶ to 7 × 10³ CFU/mL in female wards—exceeding permissible discharge limits. Bacterial isolates from male wards included Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas spp., Proteus spp., Enterobacter spp., Klebsiella spp., and Staphylococcus spp. Female ward isolates included all the above plus Streptococcus spp. All isolates were resistant to ciprofloxacin and ampicillin, while gentamicin and streptomycin remained effective. Conclusion: Ward-specific hospital effluents harbor high microbial loads and multidrug-resistant bacteria, posing significant environmental and public health risks. These findings point out the need for urgent antimicrobial stewardship, improved infection control, and hospital wastewater management strategies to curb the spread of resistance. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Wastewater; antibiotic-resistant bacteria; antibiotic resistance | ||
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