TITLE:
Bacteriological and Physico-Chemical Characterisation of Liquid Wastes: The Case of the University Hospital Centre (UHC) of Yaoundé-Cameroon
AUTHORS:
Luciane Marlyse Moungang, Blandine Pulchérie Tamatcho Kweyang, Lisyane Merveille Betyi, Roland Ndifor Ache, Yves Poutoum Yogne, Mouhama Sani Adams Ibn Rabiou, Golda Reine Zame Meva’a, Aurélie Dzenga Njeunkam, Claire Stephane Metsopkeng, Serge Hubert Zebaze Togouet
KEYWORDS:
Characterisation, University Hospital Centre, Effluents, Bacteriology of Effluents, Physico-Chemistry of Wastewater
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection,
Vol.10 No.6,
June
30,
2022
ABSTRACT: The
untreated effluents generated by hospital activities contribute to the dissemination
of pathogenic germs and multi-resistant bacteria, thus presenting a great
potential danger for health and the environment. The objective of this study
was to evaluate the microbiological and physico-chemical quality of the
effluents of the Yaoundé University Hospital Centre and their impact on the
environment. It was a prospective and analytical study on three sites where
hospital effluents from the intensive care unit (Station A), the upstream of
the wastewater treatment plant (Station B),
and the gynaecology, surgery and hospitalisation departments (Station C)
were sampled. Samples were collected in sterile glass bottles for
bacteriological analyses and polyethylene bottles for physico-chemical
analyses. The bacteriological parameters measured showed that the density of
the bacterial species sought was very high at Station B with a predominance of
the species Escherichia coli (57.36%). At Station A, total coliforms were very abundant (50.12%) and at Station
C, the genus Pseudomonas was
predominant (14.69%). Bacteria of the genus Streptococcus were represented by three species, namely: Streptococcus
agalactiae, Streptococcus faecalis, and Streptococcus
pneumoniae. The Pseudomonas genus
was also represented by 3 species, namely Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas maltophilia and Pseudomonas
putida. The physico-chemical parameters showed that apart from temperature and conductivity,
which were in compliance with the standards, the other had values higher than
these standards. This study shows that untreated hospital effluent
contains most of the bacteria involved in community, nosocomial infections and
would be a potential source of risk to the surrounding population.