Evaluation of the bacteriological and physicochemical risk of hospital effluents: case of the Mohamed V hospital in Meknes

¹ Hassan First University, Higher Institute of Health Sciences, Health Sciences and Technologies laboratory. Casablanca Road km 3, 5 BP 555 Settat – Morocco.
² Laboratory of Microbial Biotechnology & Bioactive Molecules, Faculty of Science and Technology, Sidi Mohammed Ben University Abdeallah Fez. B P 2202, Fes, Morocco
^3. Equipe de Gestion et de Développement des Ressources Naturelles, Laboratoire de Santé et Environnement, Faculté des Sciences, Université Moulay Ismail Meknès, Morocco
^4: Laboratoire de Contrôle des eaux Potables & de la pollution des eaux usées, RADEEM, Meknès, Morocco

^* Corresponding author: jawad.bouzid@uhp.ac.ma

Abstract

Like other countries, Morocco is committed to protecting environment. One of the actions is Law 28 00 on waste because it is harmful to environment and to health. However, hospital effluents are getting out of hand. This study looked at those at Mohamed V Hospital, which serves a population of almost 2 million people. The methodology relates to physicochemical and bacteriological analyzes of representative samples of these effluents by monthly samples over a period of one year. These were carried out in front of the four wings of the hospital between 11 a.m. and noon (maximum activity period). The search for bacteria of medical interest was carried out at the medical analysis laboratory of the Mohamed V hospital. The bacterial count as well as the physicochemical analyzes were carried out at the drinking water & wastewater pollution control laboratory of the Autonomous Distribution Authority of Water and Electricity of Meknes and of the environment and health laboratory of the Faculty of Sciences of Meknes. The results showed that some parameters correlate with others and that these effluents pose a threat to the environment and to health. Indeed, the chemical pollution values are high (NH4 +, NO2-, NO3-) compared to WHO standards. The presence of pathogenic germs is demonstrated such as pseudomonas, acinetobacter, clostridium, staphylococcus and streptococcus. On the other hand, these effluents are biodegradable since the COD / DBOS ratio varies between 1.1 and 2 (<2).