Abstract:
The use of antibiotics in the hospitals for patient care, and disinfection is a global scenario, but it
has become a threatening issue for all. Antibiotics are partially metabolized and residual
quantities reach into hospital waste water. A cross-sectional study was conducted between
January and June 2021 from different hospitals waste water to identify the Escherichia coli (E.
coli) and Salmonella spp. A total of 100 samples were collected for bacteriological analysis.
Bacteria were identified using morphological, cultural and biochemical characterization. The E.
coli showed metallic sheen and pink colored colonies on EMB agar and MacConkey agar
respectively. It was gram negative and showed small rod shaped arranged in single or pair
shaped. It was noticed as positive to Indole, MR and catalase test but negative to VP test. In case
of Salmonella spp, it was observed as black smooth colonies on SS agar. These bacteria were
observed as short rod-shaped gram-negative bacteria. The MR and catalase test were positive but
Indole and VP test were negative. The occurrence of E. coli and Salmonella spp. were 80% and
87%, respectively. The antibiotic sensitivity test indicated that the both types of isolated E. coli
and Salmonella spp. were highly resistant to tetracycline (100%). Besides, E. coli was resistant
to ampicillin (93.75%) and sensitive to ciprofloxacin (65%), streptomycin (62.5%) and
gentamycin (93.5%) but Salmonella spp. was highly resistant to ampicillin (100%) and sensitive
to ciprofloxacin (73.86%), gentamycin (79.54%) and streptomycin (34%). Hospital waste water
contained antibiotic resistant bacteria that was reported as alarming voice to public health.
