PHARMACEUTICAL EFFLUENTS AND ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE IN WASTE-MANAGEMENT: AN ASSESSMENT FRAMEWORK FOR WASTEWATER, SURFACE WATER, AND SOIL IN MUBI, ADAMAWA STATE, NIGERIA

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major public-health and environmental concern because resistant microorganisms can circulate among human-associated, animal-associated, and environmental microbial communities. Wastewater, sewage sludge, surface water, and contaminated soils may receive resistant bacteria, antibiotic residues, disinfectants, metals, and other co-selective pollutants from domestic, healthcare, commercial, agricultural, and industrial sources. Pharmaceutical manufacturing discharges are of particular concern where active pharmaceutical ingredients reach receiving environments without adequate treatment. This research presents an expanded assessment framework for examining environmental AMR associated with waste-management practices in Mubi North and Mubi South Local Government Areas, Adamawa State, Nigeria. The proposed analytical cross-sectional study includes 46 environmental samples: 18 wastewater, 16 surface-water, and 12 soil samples. Planned analyses include physicochemical characterization (pH, temperature, biochemical oxygen demand [BOD], chemical oxygen demand [COD], and total suspended solids [TSS]), bacterial isolation and identification. A dataset was presented to reveal, the source counts, percentages, means, and inferential statistics. The discussion integrates evidence on wastewater as a reservoir and dissemination route for resistance, the limits of interpreting AMR detection, and mitigation options such as source control, improved sanitation, validated effluent treatment, surveillance, and One Health coordination. A reliable local baseline ensures transparent sampling, laboratory quality assurance, and statistical analysis. The populated framework has help in identifying environmental monitoring priorities and feasible AMR mitigation actions for Adamawa State.