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Bacteriological Analysis and Antibiotic Susceptibility Profile of Wastewater Effluent, From Alex Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakiliki, Ebonyi State Nigeria

Received: 13 September 2026     Accepted: 27 September 2026     Published: 23 October 2026
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Abstract

This research paper was conducted to determine the antimicrobial resistance patterns of bacterial isolates which were obtained in the hospital wastewater of Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki (AE-FETHA). The bacterial isolates were identified using selective culture media, Gram staining, and biochemical tests. The findings revealed that the most common pathogens in the hospital wastewater were Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp, and Shigella spp. The resistance of Staphylococcus aureus was the highest and all the isolates were resistant to pefloxacin, 60% to gentamicin, and 80 percent to rifampicin. The isolates of Escherichia coli had 100% resistance to pefloxacin, Ampiclox, and Amoxicillin and 75% resistant to ciprofloxacin. Salmonella spp. had 100% resistance to Ampiclox and Amoxicillin, 66.7% resistance to Zithromax and 100% resistance to rifampicin. Shigella spp. was 100 percent resistant to Ampiclox, Amoxicillin, rifampicin and ciprofloxacin and half of the isolates were resistant to Zithromax. These results revealed that multidrug resistance in hospital wastewater is very high and thus there is a call to enhance infection control, antimicrobial stewardship, and wastewater management behaviors in hospitals and antimicrobial resistance patterns should be monitored regularly to reduce the diffusion of the resistant pathogen.

Published in Frontiers in Environmental Microbiology (Volume 12, Issue 4)
DOI 10.11648/j.fem.20261204.11
Page(s) 58-65
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2026. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Bacteriology, Antibiotic, Susceptibility, Profile, Wastewater

References
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[4] Hocquet, D., Germain, C., and Donadille, S. (2016). Antibiotic resistance in hospital wastewater: A critical challenge for the treatment of effluents. Journal of current Opinion in Microbiology, 31, 10-15.
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[6] NAFTA (2024). National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) report on drug regulation in Nigeria. NAFDAC Annual Report, 12(1), 14-16. Retrieved from
[7] Awere-Duodu, A., Ntim, O. K., Donkor, E. S. (2025). Vibrio cholerae in Water Environments: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Environ Microbiology Rep.; 17(3).
[8] Endalamaw, A., Khatri, R. B., Mengistu, T. S., Erku, D., Wolka, E., Zewdie, A., Assefa, Y. (2024). A scoping review of continuous quality improvement in healthcare system: conceptualization, models and tools, barriers and facilitators, and impact. BMC Health Serv Res. 19; 24(1).
[9] Prince Hotor, M., Aboh, L., and Duwiejuah, A. (2025). Antimicrobial resistance in hospital wastewater in West Africa: An emerging public health issue. Journal of Water and Health, 3(2), 214-228.
[10] WHO. (2025). World Health Statistics 2025: Global health indicators and trends. World Health Organization. Retrieved from
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[13] Mahmoud Bali University of Gabès, Wiem mbarki, Boulanouar Lissir, (2025). Advanced Oxidation Processes and Treatment Strategies for Hospital Wastewater: A Comprehensive Review. Comprehensive Review. Engineering Science & Technology 7(1): 144-155
[14] Zong, Z., Wang, X., and Cheng, Y. (2021). Antimicrobial resistance in Staphylococcus aureus: A global challenge in healthcare settings. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, 7(8), 2035-2041.
[15] Tang Y, Xiao N, Zou J, Mei Y, Yuan Y, Wang M, Wang Z, Zhou Y, Chen Y, Li S. Antibiotic resistance, biofilm formation, and molecular epidemiology of Staphylococcus aureus in a tertiary hospital in Xiangyang, China. Braz J Microbiol. 2024 Jun; 55(2): 1305-1315.
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[18] Akinyemi, K. O., Oduyebo, O. O., and Sulaimon, M. A. (2021). *Hospital wastewater as a source of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria: Implications for infection control and public health*. International Journal of Environmental Health Research, 3(5), 452-463.
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Nnenna, O. E., Chukwuma, I. D., Blessing, E., Chinaemerem, O. H., Amuche, O. E. (2026). Bacteriological Analysis and Antibiotic Susceptibility Profile of Wastewater Effluent, From Alex Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakiliki, Ebonyi State Nigeria. Frontiers in Environmental Microbiology, 12(4), 58-65. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.fem.20261204.11

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    ACS Style

    Nnenna, O. E.; Chukwuma, I. D.; Blessing, E.; Chinaemerem, O. H.; Amuche, O. E. Bacteriological Analysis and Antibiotic Susceptibility Profile of Wastewater Effluent, From Alex Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakiliki, Ebonyi State Nigeria. Front. Environ. Microbiol. 2026, 12(4), 58-65. doi: 10.11648/j.fem.20261204.11

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    AMA Style

    Nnenna OE, Chukwuma ID, Blessing E, Chinaemerem OH, Amuche OE. Bacteriological Analysis and Antibiotic Susceptibility Profile of Wastewater Effluent, From Alex Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakiliki, Ebonyi State Nigeria. Front Environ Microbiol. 2026;12(4):58-65. doi: 10.11648/j.fem.20261204.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.fem.20261204.11,
      author = {Onu Euslar Nnenna and Ilang Donatus Chukwuma and Eze Blessing and Onu Henrrienta Chinaemerem and Obaji Ezekiel Amuche},
      title = {Bacteriological Analysis and Antibiotic Susceptibility Profile of Wastewater Effluent, From Alex Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakiliki, Ebonyi State Nigeria},
      journal = {Frontiers in Environmental Microbiology},
      volume = {12},
      number = {4},
      pages = {58-65},
      doi = {10.11648/j.fem.20261204.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.fem.20261204.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.fem.20261204.11},
      abstract = {This research paper was conducted to determine the antimicrobial resistance patterns of bacterial isolates which were obtained in the hospital wastewater of Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki (AE-FETHA). The bacterial isolates were identified using selective culture media, Gram staining, and biochemical tests. The findings revealed that the most common pathogens in the hospital wastewater were Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp, and Shigella spp. The resistance of Staphylococcus aureus was the highest and all the isolates were resistant to pefloxacin, 60% to gentamicin, and 80 percent to rifampicin. The isolates of Escherichia coli had 100% resistance to pefloxacin, Ampiclox, and Amoxicillin and 75% resistant to ciprofloxacin. Salmonella spp. had 100% resistance to Ampiclox and Amoxicillin, 66.7% resistance to Zithromax and 100% resistance to rifampicin. Shigella spp. was 100 percent resistant to Ampiclox, Amoxicillin, rifampicin and ciprofloxacin and half of the isolates were resistant to Zithromax. These results revealed that multidrug resistance in hospital wastewater is very high and thus there is a call to enhance infection control, antimicrobial stewardship, and wastewater management behaviors in hospitals and antimicrobial resistance patterns should be monitored regularly to reduce the diffusion of the resistant pathogen.},
     year = {2026}
    }
    

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    T1  - Bacteriological Analysis and Antibiotic Susceptibility Profile of Wastewater Effluent, From Alex Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakiliki, Ebonyi State Nigeria
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    JO  - Frontiers in Environmental Microbiology
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    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2469-8067
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.fem.20261204.11
    AB  - This research paper was conducted to determine the antimicrobial resistance patterns of bacterial isolates which were obtained in the hospital wastewater of Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki (AE-FETHA). The bacterial isolates were identified using selective culture media, Gram staining, and biochemical tests. The findings revealed that the most common pathogens in the hospital wastewater were Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp, and Shigella spp. The resistance of Staphylococcus aureus was the highest and all the isolates were resistant to pefloxacin, 60% to gentamicin, and 80 percent to rifampicin. The isolates of Escherichia coli had 100% resistance to pefloxacin, Ampiclox, and Amoxicillin and 75% resistant to ciprofloxacin. Salmonella spp. had 100% resistance to Ampiclox and Amoxicillin, 66.7% resistance to Zithromax and 100% resistance to rifampicin. Shigella spp. was 100 percent resistant to Ampiclox, Amoxicillin, rifampicin and ciprofloxacin and half of the isolates were resistant to Zithromax. These results revealed that multidrug resistance in hospital wastewater is very high and thus there is a call to enhance infection control, antimicrobial stewardship, and wastewater management behaviors in hospitals and antimicrobial resistance patterns should be monitored regularly to reduce the diffusion of the resistant pathogen.
    VL  - 12
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Author Information
  • Microbiology Department, Alex-Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Ikwo, Nigeria

  • Microbiology Department, Alex-Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Ikwo, Nigeria

  • Microbiology Department, Alex-Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Ikwo, Nigeria

  • Microbiology Department, Alex-Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Ikwo, Nigeria

  • Microbiology Department, Alex-Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Ikwo, Nigeria

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