Chineme Mayfair, AKPANGENE

Palm oil mill effluent (POME) is an acidic, viscous, and voluminous colloidal suspension formed during palm oil processing from the mixed stream of sterilizer condensate, separator sludge, and hydrocyclone wastewater. The aim of this study was to investigate the microbiological analysis of localized and mechanized palm oil mill effluents. Palm oil mill effluent (POME) were collected aseptically with sterile microbiological bottles from mechanized (NIFOR) and Local palm oil mill in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. The samples were immediately transported to the laboratory for analysis. The standard method of isolating microorganisms was adopted. Microorganisms were cultured on Nutrient Agar and …. Antimicrobial analysis was done using the agar well diffusion method. Local palm oil mill effluent had the highest bacteria count (13.00 x 10 3cfu/ml) while mechanized palm oil mill effluent had the least bacteria count (3.0 x 10 3cfu/ml). Bacteria isolated were Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Bacillus subtilis, Shigella dysentariae, Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Salmonella enterica and Staphylococcus aureus. P. aeruginosa (18.%) and E. coli (18.8%) were the most occurring bacterial isolates while S. dysentariae (7.8%) and P. mirabilis (7.8%) were the least occurring bacterial isolates. B. subtilis, S. aureus and S. dysentariae were susceptible to rocephin, septrin and resistant to gentamycin, zinnacef and ciprofloxacin. E. coli, P. aeruginosa and S. enterica were resistant to augmetin and chloramphenicol and susceptible to pefloxacin and ofloxazin. P. aeruginosa was the most resistant bacteria with multiple antibiotic resistance index of 0.7. E. coli was the least antibiotic resistant bacteria with multiple antibiotic resistance index of 0.2%. Proper hygiene practice by palm oil workers and sanitation of the palm oil facilities should be constantly carried out to avoid transmission of potentially infectious agents to patients. Also, use of fertilizers to grow palm trees should be reduced to minimize the incidence of drug resistance.