Isolation, Identification and Antibiogram Studies of Escherichia coli from Ready-to-Eat Foods in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu

Abstract

The aim of this study was to isolate and identify Escherichia coli in most common ready-to-eat vegetables and meat and meat products from roadside shops and local markets of Tiruchirappalli. A total of 740 samples (10 samples each of 37 vegetables and 37 meat and meat products) were randomly purchased. Out of 740 samples, 500 (68%) samples were positive for Enterobacteriaceae. The findings showed 162 positive strains of E. coli. The study highlighted prevalence of E. coli in ready-to-eat vegetable products than ready-to-eat meat and meat products. The vegetable products of mixed vegetable salad (80%), pani puri (70%) and veg cutlet (60%) showed higher positives results for E. coli. Whereas boti masala (80%), chicken tandoori, fish finger, brain masala and prawn curry (50%) had the highest number of isolates in ready-to-eat meat and meat products. The antibiotic susceptibility of isolated strains showed alarming drug resistance against many antibiotics. The antibiotic susceptibility test revealed multi-drug resistance among 115 (71%) E. coli isolates and among these isolates, 21 (12.9%) were 100% resistant to all the 12 antibiotics. The study revealed that unhygienic food handling platforms are becoming a serious issue on public health point of view.