MICROBIOLOGICAL AND PHYSICOCHEMICAL QUALITY OF HOSPITAL “X” EFFLUENT IN ABA, ABIA STATE, NIGERIA.

Abstract

The microbiological and physicochemical quality of hospital “x” effluent was assessed. The study
was done using standard microbiological and physicochemical methods. Bioloads had highest
counts in the late hour (LH) samples than in the early hour (EH) samples: total heterotrophic
bacteria (CFU/ml) - 7.9 x 104 ± 0.15 (LH), 6.7 x 104± 0.20 (EH), total coliform (CFU/ml) - 2.2 x
10³ ± 0.09 (LH), 1.8 x 10³ ± 0.04 (EH), and fungi (CFU/ml) - 3.5 x 10³ ± 0.05 (LH), 3.1 x 10³ ±
0.17 (EH), The recorded bioload results were higher than regulatory standards as stipulated by
National Environmental Standards and Regulatory Enforcement Agency (NESREA). Most of the
physicochemical values were high in the LH samples than in EH samples, and all the values are
above regulatory standards (NESREA) except for temperature and nitrate that had values below
standards. Total phosphorus had values slightly above regulatory standards (NESREA). A total of
four bacterial species (Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Staphylococcus and Enterobacter species)
and four fungal species (Aspergillus, Candida, Cryptococcus and Penicillium species) were
isolated respectively. Escherichia coli had the highest prevalence for bacteria (33.3%), while
Aspergillus species had the highest prevalence for fungi (42.9%). This study has shown that
hospital wastewater/ effluent is highly polluted, contaminated, infectious and if discharged into
the environment untreated, it can pose serious health hazards to humans. Therefore, there is need
for strict regulations concerning treatments and monitoring by regulatory bodies on the affected
establishments to avert epidemics.