Physicochemical Quality and Antibiotic Resistance Profile of Bacteria isolated from Well Water in two Slums in Minna, Niger State

Abstract

Water plays an indispensable role in sustenance of life and yet, it is one of the major source of transmission of enteric pathogens in developing countries. The aim of this study was to determine the physicochemical and bacteriological qualities of twenty well water samples f r o m t w o slu m c o m m u nitie s ( K p a k u n g u a n d B a rikin S ale ) in Min n a , Nig e r S t a t e u sin g s t a n d a r d m e t h o d s . T h e a n tibio g r a m o f t h e b a c t e rial is ola t e s w a s d e t e r min e d u sin g dis c diffusion method. Results analysis revealed a significant (p<0.05) total viable bacterial counts (TVC) (3.5 x 10 6 to 9.9 x 10 6 cfu/mL) and (2.5 x 10 5 to 4.7 x 10 6 cfu/mL) from Kp akungu and Barikin Sale well water respectively. The coliform counts and Vibrio cholerae counts for water samples from both slums were higher than World Health Organization ( W H O ) m a xim u m a c c e p t a ble limit a n d Nig e ria n S t a n d a r d f o r D rin kin g W a t e r Q u alit y (NS DWQ). Similarly, the counts of Salmonella ranged from 1.0 x 10 2 to 7.10 x 10 3 cfu/mL in K p a k u n g u w ell w a t e r . E s c h e ric hia ( 2 3 . 7 % , 2 6 . 9 % ) , Kle b siella ( 1 1 . 3 % , 1 0 . 3 % ) , Pseudomonas (4.1%, 9.0%), Staphylococcus (5.2%, 14.1%), Streptococcus (8.2%, 7.7%), Micrococ cus (1%), Vibrio (3.1%, 1.3%), Salmonella (6.2%) and Bacillus (3.1%, 3.8%) were isolated from both slums. The physicochemical parameters of the well water were within the acceptable limit set by WHO and NSDWQ for drinking water. Interestingly, lead and ars enic were not detected in the water samples. Vibrio cholerae was resistant to most antibiotics t e s t e d . S t a p h . a u r e u s ( 4 3 % ) w a s r e sis t a n t t o A m o x yl a n d A m piclo x . P s e u d o m o n a s a e r u gin o s a ( 7 5 % ) w a s r e sis t a n c e t o N alidixic a cid w hile S alm o n ella t y p hi s h o w e d 83% resistance to Augmentin (AU) and Ampicillin (PN). The results of this study suggest that well water from both slums were contaminated with bacterial pathogen with potential health hazard. Therefore, the need to provide potable water source cannot be ov eremphasized.