Isolation and Characterization of Antibiotic-Degrading Bacteria from Hospital and Industrial Waste-Contaminated Soil

Authors

  • Anuja S. Zine Department of Biotechnology, Deogiri college, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, 431003.
  • Jadhav M.A. Department of Biotechnology, Deogiri college, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, 431003.
  • Rutuja R. Dahibhate Department of Biotechnology, Deogiri college, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, 431003.
  • Alka V. Pawar Department of Biotechnology, Deogiri college, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, 431003.
  • Megha S. Dhotre Department of Biotechnology, Deogiri college, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, 431003.
  • Vaishnavi B. Nagve Department of Biotechnology, Deogiri college, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, 431003.

Keywords:

Antibiotics, Biodegradation, Hospital waste, Soil bacteria, Pseudomonas spp

Abstract

Antibiotic contamination of soil and water environments has emerged as a serious global concern due to its ecological toxicity and contribution to the spread of antimicrobial resistance. Large quantities of antibiotics are continuously released into the environment through hospital effluents, pharmaceutical industries, and improper waste management practices. The present study aimed to isolate, screen, and characterize antibiotic-degrading bacteria from hospital and industrial waste-contaminated soils. Soil samples were collected from hospital premises and industrial areas and subjected to enrichment in antibiotic-amended media. Two potent bacterial isolates, designated V-RAM I and V-RAM II, were obtained and evaluated for their ability to degrade benzyl penicillin, vancomycin, doxycycline, and ceftriaxone using the agar well diffusion method. V-RAM I showed effective degradation of penicillin, ceftriaxone, and vancomycin, while V-RAM II demonstrated degradation activity against doxycycline, penicillin, and vancomycin. Morphological and biochemical characterization identified the potent isolate as Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Statistical interpretation of inhibition zone diameters confirmed significantly higher degradation efficiency of the isolates compared to the control strain (p < 0.05). The findings indicate that hospital and industrial waste-contaminated soils harbor metabolically versatile bacteria with strong potential for bioremediation of antibiotic-polluted environments.

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Published

2026-05-30

How to Cite

Anuja S. Zine, Jadhav M.A., Rutuja R. Dahibhate, Alka V. Pawar, Megha S. Dhotre, & Vaishnavi B. Nagve. (2026). Isolation and Characterization of Antibiotic-Degrading Bacteria from Hospital and Industrial Waste-Contaminated Soil. International Journal of Life Sciences, 14(1A), 151–155. Retrieved from https://ijlsci.in/ls/index.php/home/article/view/1607

Issue

Vol. 14 No. 1A (2026): International Journal of Life Sciences

Section

Biotechnology & Industrial Microbiology

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Authors

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