ANTIBIOGRAM OF BACTERIA OBTAINED FROM DRINKING WATER WITHIN UNIVERSITY OF JOS, NIGERIA

ANTIBIOGRAM OF BACTERIA OBTAINED FROM DRINKING WATER WITHIN UNIVERSITY OF JOS, NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

This study presents an antibiogram analysis of bacterial isolates obtained from drinking water sources within the University of Jos, Nigeria. Bacterial isolates were subjected to several biochemical characterization tests to identify the species, including lactose utilization, glucose utilization, catalase test, motility test, indole test, urease test, slant color appearance, gas production, hydrogen sulfide production, methyl-red test, Voges-Proskauer test, acid production, alkaline production, and oxidase test. The bacterial isolates identified were Klebsiella aerogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus mirabilis, Proteus vulgaris, Shigella flexneri, Salmonella paratyphi, and Streptococcus pyogenes. The frequency of occurrence of these isolates varied across different water samples. Total bacterial counts for all the water samples were not within the recommended limits by regulatory bodies; Environmental Protection Agency, World Health Organization, and National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control. Additionally, the sensitivity of these bacterial isolates to various antibiotics was determined by measuring the zones of inhibition (in millimeters). The antibiotics tested included Ceftazidime (CAZ), Cefuroxime (CRX), Gentamicin (GEN), Cefixime (CXM), Ofloxacin (OFL), Augmentin (AUG), Nitrofurantoin (NIT), and Ciprofloxacin (CPR). However, Ofloxacin and Ciprofloxacin revealed 100% potency against all the seven bacterial isolates while Augmentin have no effect (0%) on any of the bacterial isolates. Appropriate treatment processes should be utilized for the production of packaged water meant for human consumption. Again, drinking water regulatory bodies should be proactive in monitoring the adherence of drinking water manufacturers to regulated processing standards. The results revealed variations in antibiotic sensitivity profiles among the different bacterial species isolated from the University of Jos drinking water. These findings are crucial for understanding the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the water supply and highlight the importance of water quality monitoring and treatment measures to ensure safe drinking water for the university community. This study provides valuable insights into the microbial quality of drinking water within the University of Jos and underscores the need for continued surveillance and management of waterborne pathogens and antibiotic resistance in this environment.

CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION

1.1       Background of the Study

Water of good drinking quality is of basic importance to human physiology as well as indispensable to man’s continued existence (WHO, 2017). The deployment of water with a view to undertaking many activities on a daily basis is unquestionably the uppermost need that cannot be replaced by human beings (Adeleye et al., 2020). Microorganisms like (coliforms and enteric bacteria) can find their way into water supplies and when this happens the water becomes contaminated, thus leading to various diseases to those that come in contact with it. (Okereke et al., 2019). Eighty percent of diseases  such as typhoid, shigellosis, hepatitis A, cholera and deaths in developing nations are attributed to unsanitary water (Daodu et al., 2016). Therefore, clean drinking water is crucial in promoting good health. The water supply is not reliable in Nigeria, accounting for some of the people’s ill health (Khan et al., 2017). Studies have reported the negative impact of poor hygiene and unclean drinking water on the overall health of surrounding communities (Aroh et al., 2013).

Bacteriological water analysis is a microbiological analytical procedure that uses water samples to determine the concentration of bacteria.  This analysis is commonly used to confirm that water is safe for human consumption or that bathing and recreational waters are safe to use. (Agbor et al., 2019). Recent studies show the proliferation of emerging contaminants such as antibiotic resistance genes and microbes in the environment (Berendonk et al., 2015). The unappealing manifestation of this situation is the increasing persistence of bacterial infections amongst the public (Frieri et al., 2016). Hence this study set out to research on the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of drinking water isolates from university of Jos which is majorly inhabited by students and local inhabitants. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the bacteriological quality of the drinking water sources sold within university of Jos and to determine the anti-biogram of the isolates from the assessed drinking water sources.

1.2       Statement of Problem

Safe drinking water is one of the basic necessities for human beings. However, billions of people in the world do not have access to safe drinking water, appropriate sanitation, and hygiene in developing countries (Zahoorullah et al., 2018). Present day water sources are being polluted largely by agricultural and industrial chemical waste disposals due to cross contamination with sewers, illegal connections, leakages and corrosions (Hayelom,  and Kassie, 2017). The diversity of waterborne diseases and their severity is more in developing countries especially in Nigeria, in rural as well as in urban areas the bacteriological contamination of drinking water has been reported to be one of the most serious problems (Abid and Jamil, 2015). Water pollution causes a number of diseases like diarrhea, dysentery, cholera, typhoid and infectious hepatitis (Chatterjee et al., 2017). World Water Development Report, about 829,000 people die each year from diarrhea caused by unsafe drinking water, sanitation, and hand hygiene, including nearly 300,000 children under the age of five, representing 5.3 percent of all deaths in this age group (UNESCO 2021). 

 This situation is worst in Nigeria, as availability of safe water has been reduced from 60% to 40% due to the increased urbanization that has increased from 31% to 34% (Hussain et al., 2017). A wide range of pathogenic microorganisms can be transmitted to humans via water contaminated with fecal material and therefore causing health problems (Gideon et al 2020). It is the light of this problem that this study was carried to determined the  antibiogram of bacteria obtained from drinking water within University of Jos, Nigeria.

1.3       Justification

The importance of this study is to identify the quality of drinking water from various vendors sold within University of Jos Plateau state. The major activity is the necessity to provide data and information on the level of physical properties (Colour, turbidity) Chemical properties (pH, temperature and alkalinity) and bacteriological properties of water samples within this area. It will also give a summary of the level of these properties that will be investigated in the randomly selected sites within the study area and will give necessary suggestion on the need of drinking water to meet the standard quality required.Compliance with regulations: Antibiogram of bacteria obtained from drinking water within university of Jos  helps to ensure that the water supply meets the standards set by the relevant regulatory bodies, such as the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). This particular research has never been carried out in the university of Jos.

1.4       AIM

This study aimed to determine the antibiogram of bacteria obtained drinking water within university of Jos, Nigeria.

1.5       Objectives

        i.            To determine the bacterial count (total plate count, total coliform count and total heterotrophic count) of drinking water within university of Jos.

      ii.            To Isolate and identify bacterial isolates associated with drinking water within university of Jos.

    iii.            To determine the Antibiotic susceptibility profile, the minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration MIC and MBC of bacterial isolated obtained from drinking water within university of Jos.