Extended Spectrum Beta Lactamase (ESBL) producing enteric bacteria from hospital wastewater, Ibadan, Nigeria

This study was conducted to investigate the occurrence of antibiotic resistance, including β-lactamase and extended spectrum β-lactamase production among enteric bacteria isolated from hospital wastewater from selected hospital within Ibadan. Physico-chemical analysis of hospital wastewater samples was done, enteric bacteria were isolated and identified using convectional biochemical tests while the selection of potential ESBL-producing bacteria was carried out using disc diffusion method and ESBL detection using double synergy test. The turbidity of the wastewater samples ranged between 4.45-6.5 NTU and total suspended solids ranged between 3.4- 45.5 mg/L. While electrical conductivity was between114.25-214 µs/m, the biological oxygen demand was between 25.8-31.25 mg/L and chemical oxygen demand ranged between 41.25-45.38 mg/L. Of the 200 bacteria isolated 35(17.5%) produced ESBL; 14(40%) from the tertiary hospital and 21(60%) from private hospital out of which 85.7%, 80% and 65.7% showed resistance to sulphamethxazole/Trimetoprim, streptomycin and tetracycline respectively, while resistance to meropenem (8.6%) was low. Among the ESBL-producing isolates, K. pneumonia had the highest (15(42.8%) rate of occurrence. This study revealed a need for hospital wastewater to be properly treated before discharged into water bodies and the environment to forestall the indiscriminate discharge of wastewater harbouring ESBL-producing bacteria