ANTIBIOTIC SUSCEPTIBILITY PROFILE OF MICROORGANISMS ASSOCIATED WITH AKWA IBOM STATE UNIVERSITY WASTE DUMPSITE

The antibiotic susceptibility profile of microorganisms associated with Akwa Ibom State University waste dumpsite was assessed using standard analytical and microbiological techniques. The samples were collected at two different depths from the waste dumpsite 0-15cm and 15-30cm. The microbial counts ranged from 9.6×105 to 2.01×106 cfu/g for total heterotrophic bacteria, 7.0×105 to 1.3×106 cfu/g for total actinomycetes count, and 5.5×105 to 1.2×106 cfu/g for total fungal count. A total of nine bacterial genera were isolated which include: Staphylococcus sp., Pseudomonas sp., Bacillus sp., Listeria sp., Streptococcus sp., Escherichia sp, Klebsiella sp., Serratia sp., and Proteus sp. while six species of fungi were isolated, and they include, Mucor sp., Rhizopus sp., Aspergillus sp., Cladosporium sp., Penicillium sp., and Fusarium sp. The physicochemical properties of the waste dumpsite revealed a temperature range between 35°C - 36.50°C which enhances the growth of mesophilic organisms, and pH of 4.50 - 6.60 which is acidic. The heavy metal concentration revealed increased amount of zinc (598.12) and manganese (571.23) and lowest in cadmium (1.02). The susceptibility profile revealed that Ciprofloxacin (>21), Levofloxacin (>17) and Gentamycin (>15) produced the highest bacterial zone of inhibition except Staphylococcus species which revealed maximum resistance (70%) to the different antibiotics used. Almost all the isolates were resistant to Ampiclox, Erythromycin and Amoxil. The high microbial counts and the isolated microorganisms is an indication that waste dumpsite is a reservoir and a major health and environmental threat.