Hand Swabs Research Articles

Prevalence, Cross Contamination, Virulence, and Multidrug Resistance Profiles of Staphylococcus aureus Isolates from Four Middle-Scale Dairy Farms in Bareilly, Northern India.

Milk, a nutritious global important food commodity, serves as an excellent medium for microbial growth as well. The foodborne pathogen Staphylococcus aureus is a commensal member of human microflora that enters the food chain through poor hygienic practices and cross contamination and causes various clinical manifestations in humans. During this study, raw milk and swab samples (milker's hand, udder, towel, milking bucket, and farm floor) were collected from four middle-scale buffalo dairy farms. The results revealed S. aureus presence in 11.6% (n = 56/448) bucket raw milk samples and 2.6% (n = 12/448) udder raw milk samples. Contrarily, S. aureus prevalence was significantly higher in farm floors (100%, n = 84/84), towel (35.7%, n = 10/28), milking bucket (11.6%, n = 56/448), milker's hand (10.7%, n = 3/28), and udder swab samples (4.0%, n = 18/448). The chi-square test yielded p values of 0.000, 0.005, and 0.0011 for udder raw milk, udder swab, and milker's hand swab, respectively. The p values of the milking bucket (p = 0.048) and farm floors (p = 0.0183) confirmed their possible role in S. aureus cross contamination. Gene amplifications of nuclease and enterotoxin A indicate potential virulence of S. aureus isolates in collected samples. Antibiotic susceptibility testing revealed multidrug resistance in 44% (n = 239) of S. aureus isolates with the highest resistance of 61% against penicillin. Resistance against ampicillin, streptomycin, and lincomycin was observed. Fewer S. aureus isolates were resistant to kanamycin and erythromycin, whereas the lowest number of resistant isolates was observed against chloramphenicol. A high prevalence of S. aureus in the farm environment and milking equipment suggested the cross contamination of potentially enterotoxin-producing and multidrug-resistant S. aureus to raw milk. Therefore, good hygiene practices should be enforced to avoid foodborne and zoonotic infections.

Occurrence, Multidrug Resistance, and Multilocus Sequence Typing of Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase/AmpC-Producing Escherichia coli from Farmed Eggs.

The present study evaluated the occurrence, antibiogram profile, and sequence types (STs) of multidrug resistant (MDR) Escherichia coli from freshly laid eggs (n = 480), feed (n = 24), water (n = 24), poultry droppings (n = 24), and hand swab samples (n = 10) collected from 24 deep litter (DL) and caged poultry layer farms (12 per category) across Punjab, India. The overall E. coli contamination rate in DL and cage farms was 32% (95% confidence intervals [CI], 26.6-37.8%) and 16.7% (95% CI, 12.6-21.6%), respectively. The logistic regression analysis revealed that the DL system had higher odds of occurrence (odds ratio [OR]) of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) (2.195, 95% CI, 1.065, 4.522) and ESBL/AmpC coproducers (2.69, 95% CI, 1.122, 6.45) compared to the cage system. Additionally, isolates from the DL were 4.065 (95% CI, 1.477, 11.188) times more tetracycline resistant compared to the latter; however, resistance to amoxyclavulanate (OR, 0.437; 95% CI, 0.209, 0.912), and ampicillin (OR, 0.343; 95% CI, 0.163, 0.720) was lesser in DL system. Notably, around 97.7% and 87.2% of the isolates from the DL and cage system were MDR, with the DL system having 6.439 (95% CI, 1.246, 33.283) times more chances of harboring MDR E. coli. Additionally, among the resistance genes, the DL system demonstrated significantly high presence of blaAmpC (56%), qnrA/B/S (42.3%), and tetA/B (30.6%). Furthermore, multilocus sequence typing of 11 MDR isolates (n = 5, DL, and 6, cage) revealed the presence of 10 STs, of which ST10, ST155, and ST156 were found to be of public health importance. Therefore, the present study highlights the burden of MDR, ESBL, and AmpC-producing E. coli on poultry eggs and farm environment, which could be carried over to human handlers and consumers upon direct contact during handling and processing.

Detection of virulent and ESBL-resistant Salmonella species from cattle and associated farm environment

The aim of this study was to explore the virulence characteristics and antibiotic resistance in Salmonella species isolated from cattle farms. During the study, 10 cattle farms were selected and from each farm, 35 samples consisting of faeces, milk, udder swabs, hand swabs, floor swabs, animal drinking water, pit water, composite fodder sample, and dairy utensil swabs were collected. Accordingly, 350 samples were collected from 10 farms and processed for the detection of Salmonella spp. Presumptive Salmonella isolates were confirmed by PCR and characterized for virulence and antibiotic resistance genes. From 350 samples, 19 (5.40%) Salmonellae were recovered, and out of 19 Salmonellae, 12 were ESBL producers. Similarly, out of 19 isolates, spvC was the predominant gene detected (42.10%), followed by stn (31.5%), and spvR (26.31%), whereas, invA, and iroB genes were detected in all 19 Salmonella isolates. Most of the Salmonella isolates were multi-drug resistant strains exhibiting resistance to nalidixic acid (94.73%), tetracycline (36.84%), and ceftazidime (42.10%). Out of 12 ESBL-positive Salmonellae, 9 (75%) isolates harboured ESBL genes, viz. blaSHV and blaTEM (25% each) and blaCTX-M and blaOXA (16.66% each). Six Salmonella isolates showed the presence of tetA gene. The current study indicated healthy cattle and the associated farm environments could be a source of virulent and drug-resistant Salmonellae. The current study also advocates phenotypic and genotypic antibiotic resistance monitoring at farm animal premises and agricultural ecosystems.

Non-typhoidal Salmonella among slaughterhouse workers and in the pork value chain in selected districts of Uganda.

Non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) is a major cause of gastroenteritis worldwide, often associated with meat consumption and meat processing. Research on NTS infection and circulating serovars in meat value chains in Uganda is limited. We aimed to establish NTS prevalence, antimicrobial resistance, and risk factors among slaughterhouse workers, and to identify potentially zoonotic serovars in the pork value chain. We conducted a nationwide cross-sectional survey, collecting 364 stool samples from livestock slaughterhouse workers and 1,535 samples from the pork value chain: mesenteric lymph nodes, fecal samples, swabs of carcass splitting floor, cleaning water, meat handlers hand swabs, carcass swabs, raw pork, cooked pork, and mixed raw vegetables. Samples were cultured for isolation of NTS, and subsequently serotyped according to White-Kauffmann-Le Minor scheme. Antimicrobial resistance profiles were determined using tube microdilution and Sensititre® EUVSEC3® plates. Semi- structured questionnaires with 35 questions were used to collect data on demographics, work related risk factors and activities outside the slaughterhouse. Overall NTS prevalence was 19.2% (365/1899). Proportions at slaughter were; 46.7% in floor swabs, 30.5% in carcass swabs, 20.5% in pig faeces,19.2% in mesenteric lymph nodes,18.4% in hand swabs, 9.5% in water and 5.2% in slaughterhouse workers. At retail, proportions were 33.8% in pork chopping surface, 33.1% in raw pork, 18.9% in hand swabs, 4.0% in cooked pork and 0.7% in vegetables. Sixty-one serovars were identified, with significant overlap between humans and the pork value chain. Overall, zoonotic S. Zanzibar, monophasic serovars of S. subspecies salamae (II) and subspecies enterica (I), S. Typhimurium and S. Newport, were the most prevalent. S. Typhimurium was predominant in humans and exhibited multi-drug resistance. NTS infection was significantly associated with eating, drinking, or smoking while working (OR = 1.95, 95% CI: 0.67-2.90%, p = 0.004). The detected NTS serovars in slaughterhouse workers could be a potential indicator of circulating serovars in the general population. The persistent presence of NTS along the pork value chain highlights occurrence of cross-contamination and the potential for transmission to consumers and slaughterhouse workers. This emphasizes the need to reduce Salmonella prevalence on pig farms and improve hygiene and pork handling practices at slaughter and retail points.

Epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance profiles of pathogenic Escherichia coli from commercial swine and poultry abattoirs and farms in South Africa: A One Health approach

Pathogenic Escherichia coli (PEC) are important foodborne bacteria that can cause severe illness in humans. The PECs thrive within the intestines of humans as well as animals and may contaminate multiple ecosystems, including food and water, via faecal transmission. Abattoir and farm employees are at high risk of PEC exposure, which could translate to community risk through person-to-person contact. To determine the epidemiology and resistome of PECs in Gauteng and Limpopo provinces of South Africa, 198 swine faecal samples, 220 poultry cloacal swabs, 108 human hand swabs, 11 run-off water samples from abattoirs and farms were collected from four swine and five poultry commercial abattoirs and two swine farms. One effluent sample each was collected from four wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) and a tertiary hospital setting. Phenotypic and genotypic techniques were used including polymerase chain reaction, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and whole genome sequencing (WGS). Results showed EHEC and EPEC prevalence was 4.1 % (22/542) and 20.8 % (113/542), respectively, with the O26 serogroup detected the most in PEC isolates. According to the PFGE dendrogram, isolates from poultry, human hand swabs and run-off water clustered together. Diverse virulence factors such as the novel stx2k subtype and eae genes were detected among the 36 representative PEC isolates according to WGS. The results showed that 66.7 % (24/36) of sequenced PECs presented with multi-drug resistance (MDR) to β-lactamase 13.9 % (5/36), aminoglycoside 61.1 % (22/36), tetracycline 41.7 % (15/36) and quinolones 38.9 % (14/36). No colistin nor carbapenem resistance was detected. Sequence types (STs) associated with MDR in this study were: ST752, ST189, ST206, ST10, ST48 and ST38. The findings highlight the threat of zoonotic pathogens to close human contacts and the need for enhanced surveillance to mitigate the spread of MDR foodborne PECs.

Microbiological safety assessment of restaurants and HACCP-certified kitchens in hotels: A study in eastern China

The Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) system plays a crucial role in ensuring food safety within food service establishments, effectively reducing the risk of foodborne diseases. This study focused on assessing the risk of microbe contamination in poultry-based cook-served food during meal preparation in four restaurants and five selected HACCP-certified hotels in eastern China. We examined samples collected from 26 poultry-based cooked dishes, 248 food contact surfaces, 252 non-food contact surfaces, and 121 hand swabs. Our findings indicated a favorable trend of compliance with Chinese national standards, as Escherichia coli and Campylobacter were not detected in any cooked food samples. However, the microbiological assessments revealed non-compliance with total plate count standards in 7 % of the cooked samples from restaurants. In contrast, both dine-in hotels and restaurants exhibited significant non-compliance with guidance concerning food and non-food contact surfaces. Furthermore, our study found that chefs' hand hygiene did not meet microbiological reference standards, even after washing. Notably, Campylobacter persisted at 27 % and 30 % on chefs' hands, posing a significant risk of cross-contamination and foodborne diseases. These findings emphasize the urgent necessity for enhanced supervision of hygiene procedures and process monitoring in the HACCP-certified establishments engaged in the preparation and serving of food. Targeted interventions and food safety education for different chef subgroups can enhance food handling practices and reduce the risk of foodborne diseases in independent food establishments.

Distribution of extended-spectrum β-lactamase producing Escherichia coli genes in an integrated poultry-fish farming system in Bogor, Indonesia.

The excessive use of antimicrobials in livestock farming leads to the emergence and dissemination of antimicrobial-resistant organisms. This study aimed to detect extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli genes in integrated poultry-fish farms in Bogor, Indonesia. A total of 256 samples were collected from six poultry-fish farms. One hundred and seventy-five chicken cloaca swabs, 60 fish skin swabs, six pond water samples, and 15 farmer's hand swabs. ESBL-producing E. coli was confirmed through double-disk diffusion. The specific primers and probe genes for quantitative polymerase chain reaction detection of ESBL-producing E. coli targeted blaTEM, blaCTX-M, blaSHV, and blaOXA-48 genes. Among the 256 samples tested, 145 (56.6%) were positive for E. coli, and 67.6% (98/145) were identified as ESBL-producing E. coli. The most ESBL-producing E. coli isolates were obtained from chicken cloaca (78.3%, 72/92), followed by pond water (66.7%, 4/6), fish skin (47.6%, 20/42), and farmer's hand swabs (40%, 2/5). About 100% of the isolates carried the genes blaTEM and blaCTX-M, whereas 17.3% and 24.5% carried blaSHV and blaOXA-48, respectively. ESBL-producing E. coli genes were investigated in chicken cloaca, fish, pond water, and farmers' hands within an interconnected poultry-fish farming operation. The ESBL-producing E. coli in chickens can transfer resistant genes to aquatic environments. The transfer could harm other aquatic species and food chains, potentially threatening human health.

A study into the natural occurrence of inorganic ions relevant to forensic explosives investigations on human hands

The natural occurrence of 16 inorganic ions relevant to forensic explosives investigations on human hands was studied to support the evaluation of activity-level propositions when such traces are found on the hands or in the fingerprints of a suspect. A total of 594 hand swab extracts from 297 participants throughout Europe and the United States of America were analyzed using Ion Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry. The data provides a reference framework for future covert investigations and forensic casework. The results indicate that thiocyanate, chlorate, nitrite, lithium, strontium, and barium are rarely detected on the hands of individuals who have had no direct contact with explosives (P<0.03) and in quantities below 6 µg. Perchlorate contamination sporadically occurs without deliberately handling perchlorates (P=0.03), albeit at low levels (<12 µg). It also seems that the presence of perchlorate on hands is generally related to professions that involve explosives. Detecting substantial amounts of any of these rare ions on a suspect’s hands would require a specific explanation. Because legitimate activities exist that can also result in elevated levels of ions of interest on hands, the context surrounding their presence has to be carefully assessed for each individual case.

High prevalence and genetic diversity of multidrug-resistant and extended-spectrum ß-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae in mothers and neonates in a Cameroonian labor ward

Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae rank among the primary bacterial culprits in neonatal infections and fatalities in sub-Saharan Africa. This study characterized the phenotypic and genotypic features of E coli and K pneumoniae in a labor ward in Yaoundé, Cameroon. A prospective and cross-sectional study spanning 5months, from February 21, 2022 to June 30, 2022. Rectovaginal swabs were obtained from expectant mothers, and nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from their babies. Hand swabs of health care workers and environmental samples were also collected. The samples were cultured on eosin methylene blue agar. Extended-spectrum ß-lactamase (ESBL) production was assessed using CHROMAgar ESBL and the double-disk synergy test. A polymerase chain reaction was employed to detect ß-lactamase genes. A total of 93 mothers and 90 neonates were collected. Almost all pregnant women (90%) were colonized by one or more multidrug-resistant (MDR) isolates with 58% being concomitantly ESBL producers. Altogether, 14 of 22 (64%) neonates were colonized by MDR isolates, while out of the 5 workers positive to Enterobacterales, all were colonized by MDR isolates. E coli predominated in pregnant women (55%) and neonates (73%), while K pneumoniae (83%) predominated in health care workers. The blaCTX-M (75%) was the leading ß-lactamase gene detected. Our study suggests that drug-resistant E coli and K pneumoniae are circulating at high prevalence in thelabor ward in Yaoundé and emphasizes the necessity for effective infection prevention and control along with antimicrobial stewardship measures.

Bacterial foodborne illness and Escherichia coli O157:H7 strain infection among asymptomatic food handlers in Northeast Ethiopia: Implication for hygienic practices and mass-screening.

Food-borne illness is a public health concern in developing countries because of improper food handling and sanitation practices, irregular medical checkups, lack of clean water supplies, and inadequate education among food handlers. This study investigated the burden of bacterial food-borne illness, antibiotic resistance patterns, and associated factors among food handlers in prison and nonprison food establishment settings. A cross-sectional study was conducted from August 2022 to January 2023 among asymptomatic food handlers in Shewa Robit town. A total of 384 food handlers participated. Data were collected using structured questionnaires. Stool and hand swab samples were collected and cultivated onto MacConkey agar, xylose-lysine-deoxycholate, Mannitol salt agar, and blood agar, and incubated at 37°C. Bacterial species were identified using biochemical tests and gram staining. Mueller-Hinton agar was used in Kirby Bauer's disk diffusion method. Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS. Descriptive and logistic regression analysis were performed. Fecal and hand carriage rate of bacterial isolates were 106 (27.6%), and 214 (55.7%), respectively. Out of the 102 bacterial isolates, the most common ones from stool samples were Escherichia coli 71 (18.5%), Klebsiella aerogenes 12 (3.1%), and Salmonella spp. 7 (1.8%). Among 214 bacterial isolates, coagulase-negative Staphylococci 115 (29.9%) and Staphylococci aureus 66 (17.3%) were identified from hand swab samples. Hand washing practice after restroom with water (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.16-3.45), irregular medical checkups (AOR = 2.49; 95% CI: 1.35-4.59), and did not receive food safety and hygiene training (AOR = 2.33; 95% CI: 1.34-4.05) were statistically significant association with food-borne illness. Foodborne pathogens pose a serious health risk in the study areas. The level of antimicrobial resistance are also concerning. Food handlers should therefore get strict regular health education, medical checkups, and training programs to prevent the spread of infections to the customers.

Multidrug-resistance and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing lactose-fermenting enterobacteriaceae in the human-dairy interface in northwest Ethiopia.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is among the top public health concerns in the globe. Estimating the prevalence of multidrug resistance (MDR), MDR index (MDR-I) and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing lactose fermenting Enterobacteriaceae (LFE) is important in designing strategies to combat AMR. Thus, this study was designed to determine the status of MDR, MDR-I and ESBL-producing LFE isolated from the human-dairy interface in the northwestern part of Ethiopia, where such information is lacking. A cross-sectional study was conducted from June 2022 to August 2023 by analyzing 362 samples consisting of raw pooled milk (58), milk container swabs (58), milker's hand swabs (58), farm sewage (57), milker's stool (47), and cow's feces (84). The samples were analyzed using standard bacteriological methods. The antimicrobial susceptibility patterns and ESBL production ability of the LFE isolates were screened using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method, and candidate isolates passing the screening criteria were phenotypically confirmed by using cefotaxime (30 μg) and cefotaxime /clavulanic acid (30 μg/10 μg) combined-disk diffusion test. The isolates were further characterized genotypically using multiplex polymerase chain reaction targeting the three ESBL-encoding- genes namely blaTEM, blaSHV, and blaCTX-M. A total of 375 bacterial isolates were identified and the proportion of MDR and ESBL-producing bacterial isolates were 70.7 and 21.3%, respectively. The MDR-I varied from 0.0 to 0.81 with an average of 0.30. The ESBL production was detected in all sample types. Genotypically, the majority of the isolates (97.5%), which were positive on the phenotypic test, were carrying one or more of the three genes. A high proportion of the bacterial isolates were MDR; had high MDR-I and were positive for ESBL production. The findings provide evidence that the human-dairy interface is one of the important reservoirs of AMR traits. Therefore, the implementation of AMR mitigation strategies is highly needed in the area.

Prevalence of multi-drug resistant bacteria in intensive care units at Tripoli University Hospital, Tripoli, Libya

ABSTRACT Among hospitalized patients worldwide, infections caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria are a major cause of morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to isolate MDR bacteria from five intensive care units (ICUs) at Tripoli University Hospital (TUH). A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted over a seven-month period (September 2022 to March 2023) across five ICUs at TUH. A total of 197 swabs were collected from Patients’, healthcare workers’ and ICUs equipment. Samples collected from patients were nasal swabs, oral cavity swabs, hand swabs, sputum specimens, skin swabs, umbilical venous catheter swabs, and around cannula. Swabs collected from health care workers were nasal swabs, whereas ICUs equipment’s samples were from endotracheal tubes, oxygen masks, and neonatal incubators. Identification and antimicrobial susceptibility test was confirmed by using MicroScan auto SCAN 4 (Beckman Coulter). The most frequent strains were Gram negative bacilli 113 (57.4%) with the predominance of Acinetobacter baumannii 50/113 (44%) followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae 44/113 (40%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa 6/113 (5.3%). The total Gram positive bacterial strains isolated were 84 (42.6%), coagulase negative Staphylococci 55 (66%) with MDRs (89%) were the most common isolates followed by Staphylococcus aureus 15 (17.8%). Different antibiotics were used against these isolates; Gram- negative isolates showed high resistance rates to ceftazidime, gentamicin, amikacin and ertapenem. A. baumannii were the most frequent MDROs (94%), and the highest resistance rates in Gram-positive strains were observed toward ampicillin, oxacillin, ampicillin/sulbactam and Cefoxitin, representing 90% of total MDR Gram-positive isolates. ESBL and MRS were identified in most of strains. The prevalence of antibiotic resistance was high for both Gram negative and Gram positive isolates. This prevalence requires strict infection prevention and control intervention, continuous monitoring, implementation of effective antibiotic stewardship, immediate, concerted and collaborative action to monitor its prevalence and spread in the hospital.

Prevalence of Staphylococcus argenteus among food handlers, kitchen utensils, and food samples in Japan.

Staphylococcus argenteus has received increased attention from an aspect of food safety since several food poisoning outbreaks caused by the bacterium were reported in Japan. However, S. argenteus prevalence among food handlers and utensils has not yet been investigated. In this study, we investigated S. argenteus prevalence among a collection of coagulase-positive staphylococci (CPS) that were isolated during food sanitary inspections in Japan. Out of a total of 191 CPS isolates, 14 were identified as S. argenteus. One was isolated from shelled shrimp, nine were isolated from food handlers' hand swabs, and four were isolated from kitchen utensils. Whole-genome sequencing revealed that transmission of S. argenteus from human hands to utensils was possible. Though all 14 isolates were negative for the pvl and tst-1 genes, 6 harbored the seb gene. Only 21.4% of S. argenteus isolates were resistant to antibiotics, while 62.1% of the S. aureus isolates from the same sources were confirmed to be resistant. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report to demonstrate possible transmission of S. argenteus from food handlers to utensils in food-processing environments.

The Effectiveness of The Handwashing Program with Soap (CTPS) In Preventing E. Coli Contamination on Elementary School Student, West Martapura South Kalimantan

Martapura river had been discovered of indicators of microbial contamination of drinking water, namely total coliform and E coli which are harmful to health. CTPS program for elementary schools in West Martapura sub-district has been going for long time to prevent disease. Tihis study aimed to know the difference in the effectiveness of using Martapura river water for CTPS in elementary school children in Martapura Barat District to preventing E. Coli contamination. The research method used the true experiment method with a posttest only control group design research design. The research group named group (P1) CTPS using processed Martapura river water, group with hand washing soap (P2) CTPS using Martapura river water without being processed and group (K) CTPS with PDAM water . The research subjects were18 elementary student selected by simple random sampling technique. The object study was the observation of the presence of Escherichia coli bacteria which were found from the hand swabs of elementary school children in West Martapura sub-district whose schools had treated water facilities and did not have treated water facilities. Also taking palm swabs for the research subjects, a quality test for PDAM water, Martapura river water and processed river water at the three elementary schools was carried out and examined at the Banjarbaru BBTKL-PPB Laboratory. The results showed that for CTPS water samples from PDAM water sources only counted 1 CFU E coli/100 ml, while CTPS water from the Martapura River and PAMSIMAS the number of E. coli colonies was &gt; 200 CFU/100 ml. For all samples of palm swabs from the elementary school students, all results were negative for E. Coli CFU / cm2. The conclusion is that there is no difference in the effectiveness of using Martapura River water, both treated and untreated, in the CTPS program in reducing E.Coli numbers.

Presence of Extended Spectrum Beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli from Meat Handler and Poultry Cecal Samples

Antimicrobial resistance is a global health issue that affects humans, animals, and agriculture. This study assessed the prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility of extended-spectrum beta- lactamase-producing Escherichia coli (ESBL-EC) in poultry and hand swabs of meat handlers working in a dressing plant in the Philippines. Fourteen (14) hand swabs from poultry handlers and 89 poultry cecal samples were collected and screened for ESBL production using MacConkey agar supplemented with cefotaxime and eosin methylene blue agar. Identification of E. coli through biochemical testing and antimicrobial susceptibility testing was then performed using the VITEK 2 System. Results showed that 7.14% (1/14) of the hand swabs and 23.60% (21/89) of the poultry cecal samples were positive for ESBL-EC. Identified isolates were further evaluated for their antimicrobial susceptibility using 33 antibiotics from various groups. Results showed 100% (22/22) resistance to the following antimicrobial drugs: ampicillin, ticarcillin, cefalotin, cefuroxime, cefuroxime axetil, cefixime, cefotaxime, nalidixic acid, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, ofloxacin, tetracycline, trimethoprim, and trimethoprim/ sulfamethoxazole. Resistance of select ESBL-EC isolates against other drugs under the beta-lactam, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, and aminoglycoside groups were also observed. Antimicrobial-resistant bacteria may be found in both human and animal sources, which highlights the need for ensuring safety practices to prevent their spread in the community. Gene sequencing and phylogenetic analysis may be used to further evaluate this relationship. Continuous surveillance and review of standards and protocols are also needed to monitor antimicrobial resistance, as underlined by the strategies of the One Health approach.

Occurrence of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in Bovine Bulk Milk and Farm Workers in Smallholder Dairy Farming Systems in Northwestern Ethiopia.

Staphylococcus aureus is a common pathogen responsible for causing various human and animal infections and is well known for its ability to develop resistance to multiple antibiotics. This study aimed to evaluate the occurrence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in bulk milk and dairy farms in northwestern Ethiopia and to determine their phenotypic and genotypic antimicrobial susceptibility patterns. We collected 50 bulk milk samples from 50 dairy farms and 50 hand swabs from dairy milkers. The cefoxitin disk diffusion test and PCR-based assays were used to identify MRSA isolates. In addition, cefoxitin-resistant isolates were tested for susceptibility to other antibiotics using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. The results showed that MRSA was detected in 8 samples: 6 from bulk milk samples (12%) and 2 from hand swabs (4%). All MRSA isolates exhibited a high resistance rate to penicillin (100%), followed by tetracycline (75%), ciprofloxacin (25%), chloramphenicol (25%), erythromycin (25%), gentamycin (12.5%), and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (12.5%). Moreover, 72% of the isolates showed resistance to three or more antibiotic classes and were classified as multidrug-resistant. This study identified methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and multidrug-resistant MRSA in bulk milk and dairy farms in northwestern Ethiopia. These findings highlight the potential risk of transmission of these antibiotic-resistant bacteria to humans and the need for improved antibiotic stewardship in the dairy sector using the One Health approach.

Isolation, and Identification of Escherichia coli O157:H7 Recovered from Chicken Meat at Addis Ababa Slaughterhouses.

It is a growing concern that pathogenic bacteria can be found in poultry meat, and an additional problem is the ongoing rise in food-derived bacteria's resistance to antibiotics. A cross-sectional study was conducted from February 2021 to March 2023. This study aimed to isolate, identify and analyze E. coli in poultry meat collected from slaughterhouses in Addis Ababa. A total of 499 samples were collected from fecal content, carcass, hand and knife swab samples by using purposive and systematic random sampling methods. An overall 5.2% Escherichia coli (E. coli O157:H7) prevalence was found in this study. On average, antimicrobial susceptibility tests revealed that the sensitivities of (Escherichia coli) E. coli O157:H7 isolates from carcass swabs, fecal content, manuals, knife swabs and water samples were 62.3%, 52.5%, 53%, 60% and 60%, respectively. However, few (Escherichia coli) E. coli O157:H7 isolates have developed multidrug resistance to some antibiotics, for an overall rate of 13.8%. Knowledge and attitude assessment of the slaughterhouse workers showed that 44.2% had no wash their hands at all and that 125.6% had washed their hands before slaughter commencement. The detection of (Escherichia coli) E. coli O157:H7 isolates from all sample types had a slight prevalence of serious public health concerns. It is important to monitor antibiotic use for both human and animal health in order to make sure that it is safe and effective.

Potential public health hazards related to consumption of poultry contaminated with antibiotic resistant Listeria monocytogenes in Egypt

Listeria monocytogenes is an important foodborne pathogen that incorporated into many serious infections in human especially immunocompromised individuals, pregnant women, the elderly, and newborns. The consumption of food contaminated with such bacteria is considered a source of potential risk for consumers. Therefore, a total of 250 poultry purchased in highly popular poultry stores besides 50 swabs from workers hands in the same stores, in Mansoura City had been tested for the L. monocytogenes prevalence, virulence genes, and antibiotic resistance profile illustrating the health hazards from such poultry. The L. monocytogenes were recovered from 9.6% of poultry samples while not detected from workers hand swabs. The antimicrobial susceptibility of 24 L. monocytogenes strains against 24 antibiotics of seven different classes revealed high susceptibility rates to erythromycin (79.17%), streptomycin (66.67%), gentamycin (66.67%), vancomycin (58.33%), chloramphenicol (58.33%) and cefotaxime (41.67%). The majority (79.2%) of L. monocytogenes were classified as multidrug resistant strains with high resistance to tetracyclines and β-lactams antibiotics while 16.7% of the strains were categorized as extensively resistant ones. The iap virulence-specific determination gene had been detected in all recovered L. monocytogenes isolates while 83.33 and 70.83% of the isolates harbored hylA and actA genes. In addition, the study confirmed the capability of most L. monocytogenes isolates for biofilm formation by moderate to strong production and the quantitative risk assessment illustrated the risk of developing listeriosis as the risk value exceeded 100. The current results illustrate that poultry meat can be a source of pathogenic antibiotic resistant strains that may cause infection with limited or no treatment in immunosuppressed consumers via the food chain.

Kinship analysis of mecA gene of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolated from milk and risk factors from the farmers in Blitar, Indonesia.

There are numerous reports of subclinical mastitis cases in Blitar, which is consistent with the region's high milk production and dairy cattle population. Staphylococcus aureus, which is often the cause of mastitis cases, is widely known because of its multidrug-resistant properties and resistance to β-lactam antibiotic class, especially the methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strains. This study aimed to molecular detection and sequence analysis of the mecA gene in milk and farmer's hand swabs to show that dairy cattle are reservoirs of MRSA strains. A total of 113 milk samples and 39 farmers' hand swab samples were collected from a dairy farm for the isolation of S. aureus using Mannitol salt agar. The recovered isolates were further characterized using standard microbiological techniques. Isolates confirmed as S. aureus were tested for sensitivity to antibiotics. Oxacillin Resistance Screening Agar Base testing was used to confirm the presence of MRSA, whereas the mecA gene was detected by polymerase chain reaction and sequencing. A total of 101 samples were confirmed to be S. aureus. There were 2 S. aureus isolates that were multidrug-resistant and 14 S. aureus isolates that were MRSA. The mecA gene was detected in 4/14 (28.6%) phenotypically identified MRSA isolates. Kinship analysis showed identical results between mecA from milk and farmers' hand swabs. No visible nucleotide variation was observed in the two mecA sequences of isolates from Blitar, East Java. The spread of MRSA is a serious problem because the risk of zoonotic transmission can occur not only to people who are close to livestock in the workplace, such as dairy farm workers but also to the wider community through the food chain.

Hand contamination and hand hygiene knowledge and practices among commercial transport users after the SARS-CoV-2 virus (COVID-19) scare, Enugu State, Nigeria.

Contaminated hands are one of the most common modes of microorganism transmission that are responsible for many associated infections in healthcare, food industries, and public places such as transportation parks. Public health approaches during COVID-19 pandemic have shown that hand hygiene practices and associated knowledge are critical measure to control the spread of infectious agent. Hence, assessment of commercial transport users' knowledge, belief and practices on hand hygiene, and potential contamination with infectious agents which is the aim of the study, aligns with general health concern of quantifying contamination risk levels to predict disease outbreaks. This study utilized a randomized sampling approach to select 10 frequently used commercial parks within two districts in the State: Enugu and Nsukka. The parameters analysed include a cross-sectional questionnaire survey, hand swab and hand washed samples collected from dominant hand of participants. A total of 600 participants responded to the questionnaire survey, while 100 participants' hand swabs were examined for microbial contamination. This study recorded a high prevalence of fungal (90.0%) and bacterial (87.0%) species; 20 species of fungus were identified with prevalence range of 1% to 14%; 21 bacterial species were isolated with prevalence range of 1% to 16%. These species were identified as either opportunistic, non-invasive, or pathogenic, which may constitute a health concern amongst immunocompromised individuals within the population. Aspergillus spp. (14%), was the most common fungal species that was exclusively found amongst Nsukka commercial users, while E. coli was the most prevalent isolated bacterial species amongst Nsukka (12%) and Enugu (20%) commercial park users. Prevalence of fungal contamination in Nsukka (94.0%; 47/50) and Enugu (86.0%; 43/50) were both high. Prevalence of bacterial contamination was higher in Enugu than Nsukka but not significantly (47[94.0%] vs. 40[80.0%], p = 0.583). A greater number of participants (99.3%) were aware of the importance of hand hygiene, however with low compliance rate aside "after using the toilet" (80%) and "before eating" (90%), other relevant hand washing and sanitizing practices were considered less important. With these observations, we can emphatically say that despite the COVID-19 scare, commercial park users within the sampled population do not efficiently practice quality hand wash and hygiene measures, hence, risking the widespread of infectious agents in situation of disease outbreak or among immunocompromised individuals.