Vended foods in Lagos, Nigeria: A potential reservoir for the spread of emerging strains of drug resistant bacteria

Abstract

Background and Aims: Food is of paramount importance to the sustenance of human health, on that basis this study was initiated with a view to determining bacterial agents associated with the vended foods and to investigating antibacterial resistance of the isolates. Methods: Twelve food samples from vendors were randomly collected from ten locations within Lagos environs. The food samples were analyzed bacteriologically by standard methods. The isolates were identified and subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing using standard procedures. Results: The total plate counts of bacteria recorded was between 2.98 × 103 cfu/g in Jollofrice and 4.09 × 104 cfu/g in Salad. Seventy-six bacterial isolates made up of six genera; Escherichia coli, Salmonella Typhimurium, Alcaligenes spp., Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter spp., Serratia marcensens and Proteus spp. were identified. Most of the bacterial isolates were moderately sensitive to cotrimoxazole, nalidixic acid, amoxicillin and nitrofurantion except in S. Typhimurium with less than 50% susceptibility. Also over 60% of the pathogens isolated were inhibited by ceftazidime, cefpodoxime, and levofloxacin antibiotics and most strains of E. coli, S. Typhimurium and K. pneumoniae were resistant to ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin and ceftriazone. Conclusion: The study revealed gross contamination of various vended foods. It also indicated that vended foods are potential reservoir for the spread of emerging multiple drug resistant bacteria strains that pose threat to public health. There is a need for intensive surveillance to avoid possible outbreak of food- borne diseases resulting from consumption of contaminated vended foods.