Comparative Analysis of Water Sources from Some Selected Healthcare Facilities in Calabar Metropolis, Cross RiverState, Southern Nigeria.

Abstract

Hospital water contamination can cause morbidity and mortality especially to immunocompromised patients. This research work was carried out to determine the bacteriological, physiochemical state and quality of water in three health care facilities in Calabar metropolis. A total of 60 samples were collected for this study, 30mls each was collected into sterile bottles. Twenty samples each, were collected from the General Hospital Calabar (GHC), University of Calabar Teaching hospital (UCTH) and University of Calabar Medical Centre (UMC), following aseptic procedures. Eight bacteria species were isolated which include Pseudomonas aeruginosa, with a prevalence of 21.2%, followed by Escherichia coli 18.2%, Klebsiella species 13.6%, Enterobacter species and Staphylococcus aureus 12.1%, Citrobacter species 10.6%, Bacillus species 7.6% and Streptococcus pyogenes 4.6%. The GHC had the most contaminated water source with 16(80%). The physiochemical analysis of the samples indicated that all the water sources were acidic, with pH values ranging from 3.4 to 4.7. These values are more acidic than the WHO's recommended standard of 6.5-8.5 for hospital waters. Turbidity levels were all below the WHO limit of >SNTU, free chlorine range of 0.0- 05mg/L which are below WHO standard of 0.2- 0.5mg/L. The results for coliform count ranged from (Icfu/100ml -137cfu/100ml), suggesting that the samples were all contaminated with faeces. The results also indicated a higher total heterotrophic count, ranging between Icfu/ml — 277cfu/ml. Hence, proper treatment of hospital waters should be made in line with the WHO's recommended standard.