Identification of the presence of antibiotic residues in the water environment in Ndjamena, Chad

Objective: The objective of this study is to determine the presence of antibiotic residues in the water environment. Methodology and results: It was a descriptive study with an analytical purpose from May 2022 to August 2022 carried out in 8 districts of the city of N'Djamena. Wastewater samples were collected and analyzed using standard food microbiology methods. The detection of antibiotic residues was done by the premiTest which is a qualitative detection tool. A total of 42 wastewater samples were taken in the various districts of the capital. The prevalence of antibiotic residues obtained was variable (50 to 100%) from a district to other. It was 100% in the 6th district, 83% in the 8th district, 58% in the 7th district and 50% in the 10th, 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 9th districts of the city of Ndjamena respectively. Conclusion: The prevalence of antibiotic residues detected in the water environment reflects the poor management and use of antibiotics by human and veterinary health professionals in the city of N'Djamena. In this regard, the effluents generated by hospital and veterinary activities present a real danger for humans, animals and the environment, given the nature and importance of the specific substances they contain and because of their discharge. In the same way as conventional urban waste, into the communal sewerage system without prior treatment. The Ministry of Public Health and Prevention as well as the Ministry of Livestock and Animal Production must advocate to oblige officials at different levels to prohibit the discharge of drug residues into the environment of rational wastewater treatment in order to avoid bioresistance mechanisms in Chad.