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Journal of Environment Pollution and Human Health
ISSN (Print): 2334-3397 ISSN (Online): 2334-3494 Website: https://www.sciepub.com/journal/jephh Editor-in-chief: Dibyendu Banerjee
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Journal of Environment Pollution and Human Health. 2024, 12(2), 10-23
DOI: 10.12691/jephh-12-2-1
Open AccessArticle

Vulnerability of Groundwater to Hospital Wastewater Driving Antimicrobial-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, in Cameroon Central Africa

Eheth Jean Samuel1, , Moussa Djaouda2, Tamatcho Kweyang Blandine Pulchérie1, Noah Ewoti Olive Vivien3, Fotsing Kwetche Pierre Réné4, Tamsa Arfao Antoine3, Moungang Luciane Marlyse3 and Nola Moïse3

1Départment of Microbiology, University of Yaounde I, Cameroon

2Higher Teachers’ Training College, University of Maroua, Cameroon

3Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, University of Yaounde I, Cameroon

4Department of Microbiology, Université des Montagnes, Bagangte, Cameroon

Pub. Date: July 01, 2024
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Cite this paper:
Eheth Jean Samuel, Moussa Djaouda, Tamatcho Kweyang Blandine Pulchérie, Noah Ewoti Olive Vivien, Fotsing Kwetche Pierre Réné, Tamsa Arfao Antoine, Moungang Luciane Marlyse and Nola Moïse. Vulnerability of Groundwater to Hospital Wastewater Driving Antimicrobial-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, in Cameroon Central Africa. Journal of Environment Pollution and Human Health. 2024; 12(2):10-23. doi: 10.12691/jephh-12-2-1

Abstract

In Cameroon, the dissemination of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in groundwater via hospital wastewater has not been sufficiently explored, despite the growing volume of lesstreated wastewater generated. This study aimed at assessing the impact of hospital wastewaters on the prevalence of antimicrobial-resistant P. aeruginosa in the groundwater, in two urban areas, Douala and Yaounde (Cameroon, Central Africa). In each urban area, 12 wells water and 2 hospitals effluents were sampled for water analysis. The wells water were then divided into two groups. Those close to hospitals (WCH) and those far from hospitals (WFH). The level of resistance among P. aeruginosa strains was assessed against 16 antimicrobial agents belonging to the β-Lactam, Aminoglycosid, Quinolone, and Polymyxin groups. P. aeruginosa resistance rate was significantly higher in WCH than WFH (p<0.05). This result was observed in Douala with seven antibiotics: ticarcillin/clavulanic acid (31.3% vs 9.86%), ticarcillin (47.3% vs 4.93%), piperacillin (35.9% vs 4.32%), ceftazidime (44.3% vs 7.04%), gentamicin (37.4% vs 9.15%), ofloxacin (24.4% vs 4.22%), and ciprofloxacin (14.5% vs 0%); and in Yaounde with six drugs: ticarcillin/clavulanic acid, ticarcillin, piperacillin, cefepime, gentamicin, and ofloxacin, (30% vs 8.63%; 44.4% vs 8.63%; 21.8% vs 10.79%; 39.1% vs 7.91%; 21.1% vs 2.88%; 56.4% vs 15.11%, respectively). The WCH are vulnerable to the hospital effluents.

Keywords:
Groundwater vulnerability hospital wastewater antimicrobial-resistance P. aeruginosa

Creative CommonsThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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