Hannachi Sabrina, Bouras Djillali, Flower Roger
Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural and Life Sciences, University Oran 1 Ahmed Ben Bella, Oran, Algeria.
Department of Geography, University College London, United Kingdom.
Vet World. 2025 Jul;18(7):1819-1830. doi: 10.14202/vetworld.2025.1819-1830. Epub 2025 Jul 8.
Hospital effluents are a major source of environmental contaminants, harboring pathogenic bacteria, toxic trace metals, and high organic loads. This study aimed to evaluate the bacteriological and physicochemical profiles of wastewater discharged from three coastal hospitals in Oran, Algeria, and to assess the associated public and livestock health risks under the One Health approach.
A cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2023 to February 2024, involving monthly sampling at three hospitals and one drainage collector. Twenty-six composite samples were collected at three peak daily intervals. Bacteriological analysis targeted , and spp. using selective media, membrane filtration, and biochemical confirmation. Physicochemical parameters, including biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), dissolved oxygen (DO), pH, and conductivity, were analyzed using standard American Public Health Association methods. Trace metals (lead [Pb], cadmium, nickel, copper [Cu], zinc) were quantified through atomic absorption spectrometry.
All effluents contained pathogenic bacteria, with peak concentrations of (up to 34.5 × 10 colony-forming units [CFU]/100 mL), (up to 4.5 × 10 CFU/100 mL), and persistent spp. detected primarily in warmer seasons. All and isolates exhibited resistance to multiple antibiotics. Physicochemical assessment revealed elevated BOD190 mg/L-398 mg/L), COD (200 mg/L-590 mg/L), and COD/BOD ratios <2.5, indicating high organic pollution with partial biodegradability. Trace metal concentrations, particularly Pb and Cu, exceeded the World Health Organization discharge guidelines in all samples. Contaminant levels were highest in summer, correlating with increased hospital activity and temperature.
Untreated hospital wastewater in Oran poses a serious threat to public and environmental health. The presence of multidrug-resistant bacteria and toxic metals highlights the urgent need for dedicated hospital wastewater treatment infrastructure. Grazing livestock and marine ecosystems exposed to these effluents are at risk of bioaccumulation and infection. Regulatory enforcement, routine monitoring, and the implementation of sustainable green hospital plans are essential to safeguard health under the One Health paradigm.
医院污水是环境污染物的主要来源，含有致病细菌、有毒微量金属和高有机负荷。本研究旨在评估阿尔及利亚奥兰市三家沿海医院排放废水的细菌学和物理化学特征，并根据“同一健康”方法评估相关的公共卫生和牲畜健康风险。
于2023年1月至2024年2月进行了一项横断面研究，包括每月在三家医院和一个排水收集器进行采样。每隔三个高峰日采集26个混合样本。细菌学分析针对 、 和 属细菌，采用选择性培养基、膜过滤和生化鉴定方法。使用美国公共卫生协会的标准方法分析物理化学参数，包括生化需氧量（BOD）、化学需氧量（COD）、溶解氧（DO）、pH值和电导率。通过原子吸收光谱法定量分析微量金属（铅[Pb]、镉、镍、铜[Cu]、锌）。
所有污水均含有致病细菌， （最高达34.5×10菌落形成单位[CFU]/100 mL）、 （最高达4.5×10 CFU/100 mL）的峰值浓度以及主要在温暖季节检测到的持续性 属细菌。所有 菌和 菌分离株均对多种抗生素耐药。物理化学评估显示BOD升高（190 mg/L - 398 mg/L）、COD（200 mg/L - 590 mg/L）以及COD/BOD比值<2.5，表明存在高有机污染且具有部分生物降解性。所有样本中的微量金属浓度，尤其是铅和铜，均超过了世界卫生组织的排放指南。污染物水平在夏季最高，这与医院活动增加和温度升高相关。
奥兰市未经处理的医院污水对公共卫生和环境健康构成严重威胁。多重耐药细菌和有毒金属的存在凸显了建设专门医院污水处理基础设施的迫切需求。接触这些污水的放牧牲畜和海洋生态系统存在生物累积和感染风险。在“同一健康”范式下，加强监管执法、进行常规监测以及实施可持续的绿色医院计划对于保障健康至关重要。
