Petroleum effluent contaminated surface and sub-surface soil samples were collected from mechanic workshops at
Etta Agbo in Calabar South of Cross River State Nigeria into sterile plastic containers and transported to
microbiology laboratory for analysis. Microbial analyses were carried out within twenty-four hours after collection
of samples. Clinical bacterial isolates were obtained from the Microbiology Laboratory, General Hospital Mary
Slessor, Calabar. Their identities were confirmed before use by microscopic examination and biochemical tests.
They were Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli.