Pollution in Shatt Al-Arab River near Hospital Wastewater Disposal – Detection of Pharmaceutical Compounds, Isolation and Identification of Drug-Resistant Bacteria

Abstract

Pharmaceutical compounds have been introduced into the aquatic ecosystems in multiple ways and sources, which negatively affects the health of the environment and humans. The river near the hospital sewage disposal is host environment for drug-resistant bacteria (DRB). In this context, the aim of the research was to detect the presence of pharmaceuticals in hospital wastewater, after treatment, at river point followed by isolation of bacteria and test for resistant pharmaceutical compound. Fifteen species of bacteria isolated by angiogenic methods were identified and tested using the well diffusion test to determine the resistance of selected bacteria to ibuprofen by survival assessment. This study showed that the ibuprofen detected by GC-mass was available in all selected points at a concentration of 3 to 120 mg/L. Lecuco. mesen.cremris and Koc.rosea have a high ability to break down the ibuprofen compound. Thus, the bacteria isolated from hospital wastewater can biologically degrade ibuprofen.