Abstract
The emergence and persistence of antibiotic resistance remain formidable health challenges. This study aimed at detecting and profiling antibiotic resistance of bacterial contaminants in vended food and the environment. Seventy antibiotic-resistant bacterial isolates were isolated from fried fish, African sausages, roasted meat, smokies, samosa, chips (potato fries), vegetable salads, and soil samples collected from Embu Town and Kangaru Market in Embu County, Kenya. The antibiotic susceptibility test, morphological and biochemical characterization, antibiosis assay, polymerase chain reaction-based detection of antibiotic resistance genes, and sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene were done. Analysis of variance on all measured data was done, and Tukey's honest test was used to compare and separate mean diameters of zones inhibition. Resistance of bacterial isolates to antibiotics was chloramphenicol (90%), cefotaxime (84.29%), nalidixic acid (81.43%), tetracycline (77.14%), amoxicillin (72.86%), gentamycin (48.57%), streptomycin (32.86%), and trimethoprim + sulphamethoxazole (30%). Isolate KMP337, Salmonella spp., exhibited highly significant antibiosis against S. aureus recording a mean inhibition diameter and standard error (SE) of 16.33 ± 0.88 mm, respectively, at P=0.001. The 70 bacterial isolates belonged to Bacillus, Paraclostridium, Lysinibacillus, Virgibacillus, and Serratia genera. The study isolated Bacillus wiedmannii (KC75) which is a risk group 2 as well as Serratia marcescens (KMP95) and Bacillus anthracis (KS606) which are risk group 3 organisms. The presence of antibiotic resistance genes Tet A, BlaTEM, StrB, Dfr A, Amp, and FloR genes was confirmed by a polymerase chain reaction. Samples from Kangaru Market recorded a higher (88.57%) proportion of resistant isolates as compared to isolates from Embu Town (11.43%). The study confirmed the presence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in vended fast food and the soil in Embu Town and Kangaru Market. This study calls for continuous monitoring of bacterial status and hygienic handling of vended food.
Highlights
Urban centers in developing countries face socioeconomic challenges that can adversely affect health standards
Despite efforts to report the prevalence of foodand waterborne pathogens in Embu County, data on their susceptibility to antibiotics are scarce, so this study focused on the isolation and characterization of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in food sold in Embu Town and the nearby Kangaru Market
Effect of Antibiotics on Bacteria Isolated from Food and Soil
Summary
Urban centers in developing countries face socioeconomic challenges that can adversely affect health standards. Foodborne diseases, those of microbial origin, are a major health problem and contribute to reduced economic growth [1]. Street foods are popular in urban areas because of their availability, convenience, and affordability. The hygiene aspects of sales operations are a major source of concern for the health of both handlers and consumers [2]. Inadequate sanitation, and the disposal of untreated wastewater provide an environment conducive to the growth of pathogenic microbes. Street foods are prone to cross-contamination due to lack of personal hygiene, sharing of contaminated utensils, and free movement of flies that sporadically land on the food
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