Vol. 10, Issue 5 (2021)

Author(s):
Lopamudra Kemprai, Poznur Hussain, Nur Abdul Kader, Sayed Nabil Abedin, Rekib Uddin Ahmed, Nanda Kumar Roy and Jiaur Rahman

Abstract:
The bacteriological qualities of wastewater originating from both veterinary and human healthcare establishments in and around Guwahati city were investigated to assess the influence of the hospital wastewater in the receiving environment. In the present study, 10 sampling locations were selected and samples were collected twice from each location for a period of 5 months. A total of 100 wastewater samples were analysed for different bacteriological qualities. Altogether a total of 140 bacterial isolates (E. coli, Salmonella, Streptococcus, Staphylococcus and Klebsiella) were recovered, of which 55 (39.29%) and 85(60.71%) isolates were from the wastewater of veterinary healthcare establishments and human hospitals respectively during the study period. Among the various bacteria isolated Escherichia coli was the most predominant (53.57%), followed by Salmonella (21.42%), Streptococcus (13.57%), Staphylococcus (5.71%) and Klebsiella (5.71%). The results of antibiotic sensitivity tests of these isolates towards 8 antimicrobial drugs (Ampicillin, Gentamicin, Ceftriaxone, Norfloxacin, Oxytetracycline, Streptomycin, Penicillin-G and Colistin) revealed that E. coli and Salmonella showed highest sensitivity towards Gentamicin (100%). On the other hand E. coli, Salmonella and Klebsiella showed no sensitivity towards Ampicillin and Penicillin-G. For Staphylococcus highest sensitivity was towards Norfloxacin and Ceftriaxone (87.7%) and no sensitivity towards Gentamicin. Thus, the present study based on the sampling of wastewater in and around Guwahati city indicated that the wastewater discharged by these locations lack adequate treatment and management process. Therefore, there is significant impact on health and contamination of the receiving environment.