ISOLATION AND IDENTIFICATION OF ESKAPEE PATHOGENS IN HOSPITAL WASTEWATER OF KATHMANDU VALLEY
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.3126/jist.v31i1.93219Keywords:
Antibiotic susceptibility, ESKAPEE pathogens, Hospital wastewater, Multidrug resistanceAbstract
A collection of ESKAPEE pathogens- Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter species, and Escherichia coli are antibiotic resistant bacteria and commonly found in hospital and municipal wastewater. This study isolated and identified ESKAPEE pathogens from hospital waste water (HWW), tested their physico-chemical parameters and characterized antibiotic resistant profiles. A cross-sectional study was conducted from March 2024 to May 2024 during which nine HWW samples were taken by Grab method from 7 different major hospitals across Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. Isolation and identification of pathogens were based on Bergey’s Manual of Determinative Bacteriology. Antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST) was performed using Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion method. Out of 19 isolates, the most frequently pathogens were E.coli (32%), Klebsiella pneumonia (26%), and Enterococcus faecium (21%). Linezolid (100%) showed the highest effectiveness against Gram-positive bacteria whereas Amikacin (92%), Cotrimoxazole (85%), and Chloramphenicol (85%) for the Gram-negative bacteria. Ampicillin (85%) demonstrated the highest resistance, followed by Oxacillin and CO-trimoxazole . The multidrug resistance (MDR) isolates was found to be 42% along with low dissolved oxygen (DO) value. Continuous surveillance and improved wastewater management practices are essential to mitigate the spread of these pathogens and protect public health in Kathmandu Valley and beyond.
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