Determination of Antimicrobial Profile of Pathogenic Bacteria from Waste Water Effluents.

The uncontrolled discharge of untreated and partially treated wastewater effluents from industrial and agricultural operations has emerged as a significant environmental and public health challenge, especially in low- and middle-income countries such as Nigeria. This investigates the microbial composition and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) profiles of bacterial pathogens isolated from diverse wastewater sources within Ilorin Metropolis, fishponds, food canteens, cassava and soybean processing plants, as well as a composite sample representing a cumulative mixture of these sources. Physicochemical analyses revealed elevated levels of turbidity, electrical conductivity, temperature, and total dissolved solids (TDS), particularly in pharmaceutical and composite samples, which provide favorable conditions for microbial proliferation and survival. Bacteriological investigations utilizing selective and differential media MacConkey agar, Muller-hinton agar, and Eosin Methylene Blue agar alongside Gram staining and standard biochemical tests identified the presence of pathogenic bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing through the disc diffusion method demonstrated widespread resistance among isolates to multiple antibiotic classes including β-lactams, aminoglycosides, macrolides, sulfonamides, and tetracyclines. These resistance patterns confirm the emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) organisms across wastewater ecosystems, implicating environmental discharge practices and inadequate treatment infrastructure in the regional spread of AMR. The findings underscore the urgent need for integrated wastewater management, routine environmental surveillance, and policy reforms aimed at minimizing AMR proliferation. Furthermore, the study contributes to the broader global discourse on the One Health framework, highlighting the intersection between environmental pollution, microbial adaptation, and antimicrobial stewardship in safeguarding public health