Staphylococcal Count Research Articles

Study of some physicochemical and bacteriological characteristics of drinking water in three selected rural communities in Wamba, Nasarawa State, Nigeria.

Access to safe drinking water remains a challenge in rural Nigeria. This study was carried out to determine physicochemical and bacteriological characteristics of drinking water in three rural communities in Wamba, Nasarawa State. A cross-sectional survey was conducted, 5 water samples were in respective cases collected from stream, well and borehole sources. Standard techniques were used for physicochemical analysis. Total viable counts, Total Staphylococcal counts, Total coliforms & Feacal coliforms in the samples were obtained using pour plate method, growth on Mannitol salt agar, growth on MacConkey agar and Eosin Methylene Blue agar respectively. Stream Water had higher values for physicochemical parameters. Stream water exhibited the highest bacterial counts, followed by well and borehole water. The Bacteria isolated were Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas spp, Klebsiella spp, Proteus spp and Salmonella spp. The acid lability attributes of the isolates were determined using Nutrient Agar buffered with (4-(2- Hydroxyethyl)-1- piperazineethanesulfonic acid) and Lipase activity was assessed using Trypticase soy agar supplemented with 1% Tween 80. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS-PC statistical package, with a p-value of < 0.05 it was considered statistically significant. These findings indicate contamination of drinking water sources, posing health risk to consumers and it shows the need for water treatment, monitoring & public health education in rural communities.

Bacteriological Quality Determination of Borehole Water Supply in Hostels of Rivers State University Main Campus, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Water serves as a vehicle for the transmission of various diseases to man and animals, and have been associated with both acute and chronic health syndromes. This study was carried out to determine the bacteriological quality of borehole water supply in the Hostels of Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Borehole water samples were collected from six (6) hostels for each study period, and subjected to standard bacteriological Procedures. Results obtained indicated that the highest mean total heterotrophic bacterial count of 3.6±1.7 X 105cfu/ml was recorded in the Hostel C water sample, while the least mean bacterial count of 5.5±0.35 X 104cfu/ml was observed in FCMB Hostel. The total coliform count had the highest value (3.3±3.82 X 104cfu/ml) recorded in Hostel D and the lowest value of 2.0±0.14 X 103cfu/ml was obtained in the Hostel H water sample. The faecal coliform count recorded the highest value in FCMB Hostel (1.5±0.71X 103 cfu/ml) and lowest in Hostel H (8.5±4.95 X 103 cfu/ml). The staphylococcal count was highest in Hostel B (8±9.9 X 104 cfu/ml) and lowest in Hostel C (0.6±0.57 X 104cfu/ml). Six bacterial species were identified, which included Bacillus spp (100%), Staphylococcus spp (100%), Pseudomonas spp (83.3%), Klebsiella spp. (66.6%), Salmonella spp (16.6%) and Escherichia coli (16.6%). Data obtained showed that all the isolates were biofilm producers, albeit at varying percentages, as 52.9%, 55.5%, 60%, 30%, 33.3%, and 100% of Bacillus spp, Staphylococcus spp., Pseudomonas spp., Klebsiella spp., Salmonella spp. and Escherichia coli, respectively were positive for biofilm formation. The hemolysis result indicated that 28.3%, 10%, and 61.7% of the isolates were alpha, beta and gamma hemolytic, respectively. The study indicated the presence of bacteria of public health importance, thereby, making the need for regular monitoring and treatment of these water sources very necessary to check bacterial proliferation and ensure continuous access to safe water in the hostels.

Microbiological and nutritional assessment of ‘<i>ncha iwu</i>’ (edible emulsion) vended in selected markets in Umunneochi Lga, Abia State, Nigeria

‘Ncha iwu’ is commonly used as a sauce in the preparation of ready-to-eat African salad, a wellknowndelicacy among the Igbo tribe in Nigeria. A total number of fifteen (15) samples of ‘ncha iwu’ were randomly purchased from three (3) vendors in Orie Ngodo and Eke Eziama market in Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia state. The microbiological quality, proximate composition, and mineral content of the samples were determined using Standard Methods. ‘Ncha iwu’ prepared in the laboratory served as the control. The results showed that total bacterial, Staphylococcal, Coliform and fungal counts of the samples ranged from 3.81-4.37, 2.0-3.58, 3.0-3.8, and 2.0-3.0 log10 CFU/g, respectively. The bacterial species isolated and frequency of occurrence were Staphylococcus aureus (28 %), Klebsiella spp. (18 %), Pseudomonas spp. (18 %), Escherichia coli (18 %) while the fungal species were Penicillium spp. (50 %), Aspergillus spp. (40 %), and Candida spp. (10 %). Proximate analysis indicated that ‘ncha iwu’ contains ash (63.93%), moisture (15.88 %), fibre (8.99 %), lipid (7.70 %), protein (3.50 %) and carbohydrate (0.0 %) while minerals content include Fe (3.679 mg/g), Mg (1.055 mg/g), K (1.054 mg/g), Ca (1.030 mg/g), Mn (0.469 mg/g) and Na (0.222 mg/g). Although ‘ncha iwu’ contains beneficial nutrients, majority of the commercial samples were contaminated with potential pathogenic microorganisms which is a public health concern unlike the control. This is as a result of poor handling by the producers and vendors. Good hygienic practices by the handlers, proper packaging and storage of ‘ncha iwu’ will reduce the microbial contamination of the product. Hence, adequate public health awareness campaign, training on food safety, sanitation and hygenic practices should be provided to the local processors and vendors of ‘ncha iwu’.

Physiochemical and Microbial Quality of Melon and Bush Mango Seeds and Milled Products in Local Markets ln Rivers State,Nigeria.

Risk of food borne infection contamination of food, in Africa is increased due to environmental, agronomic and socio-economic factors. This study assesses the microbial quality of melon and bush mango displayed in the local markets, aiming to provide valuable insights into the safety and quality of these widely consumed food products. Standard procedure for microbiological and proximate analysis were employed. The heterotrophic bacteria count ranged from 8.5 x 10⁵ cfu/g to 1.35 x10⁶ cfu/g. The total staphylococcus count ranged from 1.2 x 10³ cfu/g to 4.35 x 10³ cfu/g. The coliform count ranged from 2.8 x 10⁴ to 7 x 10⁵, Total Samonella count ranged from 4 x 10² cfu/g to 1.5 x 10³ cfu/g and Fungi count 6.5 x 10² cfu/g to 2.5 x 10³ cfu/g. Morphological and Biochemical characterization of heterotrophic bacteria isolated from both melon and bush mango identified nine genera, including Staphylococcus (14.6%) Bacillus (20%), Corynebacterium (5.6%) Enterobacter (4.4%), Micrococcus ( 3.3%) Pseudomonas (12.2%), Escherichia coli (13.3%), Salmonella (11.1%) and Proteus (11.1%). Fungal species like Penicillium spp., Fusarium spp., Aspergillus flavus, Candida spp., Mucor spp., Saccharomyces sp., and Aspergillus niger were isolated from both seed and milled seeds samples of melon and bush mango. The frequency of occurrence revealed variations among bacterial isolates in melon and bush mango seeds. The most frequent fungal species included Candida spp. (9.4%) Aspergillus niger (20%) Mucor (9.4%), Fusarium (11.4%), Aspergillus flavus (9.4%), Penicillium (13.2%), Rhizopus spp (3.7%) and Saccharomyces (15%). Proximate and heavy metal analysis indicated variations in the composition of Carbohydrate (7.11%), Lipid (15.03%), Ash (1.89%), Moisture (7.31%), Protein (23.86%), Crude Fiber (12.66%), Lead (0.213 mg/kg), Copper (2.11mg/kg), calcium (0.49mg/kg) and Cadmium (0.0169mg/kg) in melon and bush mango, Carbohydrate (15.03%), Lipid (58.24%), Ash (1.74%), Moisture (10.48%), Protein (11.95%), Crude Fiber (2.64%), Lead (1.7903mg/kg), Copper (2.11mg/kg), calcium (0.148mg/kg) and Cadmium (0.000385mg/kg). The presence of heterotrophic bacteria in such ranges suggests potential differences in hygiene practices during cultivation, processing, and storage. Therefore; Implement stringent quality control measures during the production, processing, and storage of both melon and bush mango seed.

Microbiological Assessment of Smartphone Surfaces Obtained from Final Year Students at Hezekiah University Umudi, Nkwerre, Imo State, Nigeria.

Smartphones of students in tertiary institutions have been described as an understudied and under-explored microcosm by leading public health experts. The microbial quality of smartphone surfaces has been a constant reason for several scientific discussions. Two hundred students were initially targeted for the study, ten students in the final year class at the Hezekiah University Umudi permitted access to their phones during the sampling. The study carried by swabbing the surface of their phones with a normal saline-moistened swab stick using a square quadrant. The content was dislodged and diluted using a 10-fold serial dilution technique. The samples were evaluated for total heterotrophic count, coliform, fungal and Staphylococcal count. The bacterial isolates were tentatively identified using biochemical reactions. The total heterotrophic count of the samples obtained from the male students ranged from Log 2.82 CFU/cm2 to Log 3.21 CFU/cm2 while the total coliform count was observed to range from Log 1.3 CFU/cm2 to Log 1.6 CFU/cm2. The total heterotrophic count ranged from Log 2.82 CFU/cm2 to Log 3.21 CFU/cm2 for male students and from Log 1.6 CFU/cm2 to Log 2.73 CFU/cm2 for female students. The isolates obtained from the study were Acinetobacter sp., Escherichia coli, Proteus sp., Klebsiella sp., Pseudomonas sp. and Staphylococcus sp. There is a need for the University to educate students on the need to routinely use alcohol-based wipes to clean the surfaces of their phones as a precautionary measure to limit diseases associated with the use of mobile phones.

Avaliação microbiológica de carne bovina comercializadas no Brasil e conhecimentos de consumidores sobre segurança de alimentos

Meat is highly perishable and is often associated with foodborne disease outbreaks. The risk associated with handling food at home is underestimated, as consumers generally associate foodborne disease outbreaks with food from food services. This study aimed to quantify Escherichia coli, coagulase-positive staphylococci, mesophilic aerobic bacteria, and Salmonella spp. in ground beef samples sold at commercial establishments in Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil, and to evaluate the knowledge of food safety among consumers in the region. Microbiological analyses were performed on 70 ground beef samples, and the knowledge of 92 meat consumers was analyzed using an online questionnaire based on the World Health Organization (WHO) safe food guidelines. Fifty percent of the meat samples had aerobic mesophilic microorganism counts above the limit established by Brazilian legislation, indicating unacceptable food quality. Only two samples (2.86%) had counts of coagulase-positive staphylococci above those allowed by legislation. The consumer knowledge regarding food safety showed that items related to “cook thoroughly” and “keeping food at safe temperatures” had the lowest percentage of correct answers. Dissemination of information about temperatures that ensure food safety is essential for consumers, especially considering that even with high levels of contamination, most microorganisms are destroyed by heat.

Assessment of Bacteriological Quality and Determination of Antibiogram of Bacteria Isolated from Water Used in Selected Hospitals within Port Harcourt City and Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State

Study’s Novelty/Excerpt This study investigates the bacteriological quality and antibiogram profiles of water samples from hospitals in Port Harcourt Metropolis, highlighting significant contamination and multi-drug resistance among isolated bacterial species. The research identifies the presence of various bacteria, including Staphylococcus sp., Bacillus sp., and Klebsiella sp., with notable resistance to commonly used antibiotics, underscoring the potential public health risks associated with hospital water sources. This study's findings emphasize the need for rigorous water treatment protocols to ensure safe consumption and reduce the risk of antibiotic-resistant infections in hospital settings. Full Abstract Water is vital for life, and water void of bacterial contamination is vital for hospital consumption and use. This study aimed to determine the bacteriological quality and antibiogram of different water samples in some hospitals within Port Harcourt Metropolis. Water samples were collected in different hospitals in Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria. Based on water dispensers, outdoor taps, washing hand faucets, and faucets in the toilet and theatre. The bacteriological quality of the water samples, coagulase, haemolysis, biofilm, starch, and antibiogram were determined using standard microbiological procedures. The mean range of the total heterotrophic bacterial, staphylococcal, faecal coliform, and total coliform counts of the water samples were 8.5±0.7×105 to 3.8±2.1×107, 1.2±0.2 to 2.8±0.3×105, 0.0±0.0 to 8.0±4.2×103 and 0.0±0.0 to 1.1±0.1×105 CFU/mL, respectively. The prevalence of the isolated bacteria is Staphylococcus sp (17.5%), Bacillus sp (12.5%), Enterobacter sp. (12.5%), Klebsiella sp. (10%), Citrobacter sp. (5%), Escherichia coli (2.5%) and Siccibacter sp. (2.5%). Staphylococcus, Bacillus, Enterobacter, Klebsiella, Citrobacter, Escherichia coli, and Siccibacter sp. were positive for haemolysis and α-amylase production, 80% of Staphylococcus sp were coagulase positive while 46, 40, 57 and 25% of Staphylococcus, Bacillus, Enterobacter, and Klebsiella sp produced biofilm. The antibiogram showed multi-drug resistance (0.2-1.0). Levofloxacin was 60% effective against Staphylococcus sp, while susceptibility of Klebsiella and Citrobacter sp to ofloxacin, gentamycin, nalidixic acid, and levofloxacin 66.7%. The water samples from these hospitals might not be good for drinking. Thus, treatment of water before use is recommended. The high antibiotic resistance could imply the emergence of resistant isolates in hospital water.

BACTERIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF SOME COMMERCIALLY SOLD YOGHURT IN UTURU, ABIA STATE, NIGERIA: A PRELIMINARY STUDY

A preliminary study was carried out to determine the bacteriological quality of commercial yogurt sold in Uturu, Abia State, Nigeria. This involved isolation, characterization and antibiotics susceptibility of bacteria isolated from some commercially sold yoghurt in Uturu. Five different brands of yoghurt coded A to E were microbiologically analyzed using standard microbiological methods. The total viable count ranged from 0.9×102 cfu/ml – 2.0x103 cfu/ml, coliform count ranged from 0.4×102 cfu/ml – 1.0×103 cfu/ml, total staphylococcal count ranged from 1.1×101 to 1.8×102. Bacterial isolated include Staphylococcus species, Streptococcus species, Bacillus species and Lactobacillus species. The antibiotics susceptibility pattern of the bacterial isolates proved that drovid had the highest zones of inhibition from 31.8±1.2 mm to 36.1±0.3 mm, followed by oflaxacin (29.5±0.1 mm to 35.0±0.8 mm). The presence of coliform and Staphylococcus in the yoghurt may be as a result of unclean water used in the production, contaminated milk and unhygienic condition of the handlers. It is recommended that yoghurt producers, sellers and handlers should ensure a high level of hygiene and avoid long exposure of yoghurt before selling to consumers.

ANTIBIOTIC SUSCEPTIBILITY PATTERN OF BACTERIA ASSOCIATED WITH CLINICAL WASTE MATERIALS IN GOKANA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF RIVERS STATE.

A significant issue in world healthcare today is the rise in illnesses brought on by bacteria that have developed resistance to widely used antibiotics. The goal of this study was to determine the pattern of antibiotic susceptibility of bacteria that were isolated from five clinical wastes that were gathered from approved health facilities in Rivers state's Gokana Local Government. Fifty (50) samples of clinical waste were collected for six months from two different health centers. Samples were subjected to Standard microbiological analysis. Total heterotrophic count, total Staphylococcal count, coliform count, and feacal coliform count were estimated. Five (5) bacteria species isolated during the study and their percentage occurrence were Staphylococcus sp. was the most frequently isolated bacteria 15 (55.6%), Bacillus sp. 8(29.6%), Klebsiella sp. 2(7.4%), Pseudomonas sp. and Escherichia coli 1 (3.7%). Susceptibility of bacteria to antibiotics revealed that the Gram-positive bacteria were 77.3% resistant to Cefexime, 68.2% resistant to Cefotaxine and 63.6% resistant to Augmentin and Cefuroxine while the Gram-negative bacteria were 100% resistant to Nalidixic acid, 80% resistant to Ampiclox, 60% resistant to Augmentin, Imipenem/Cilastatin, Cefuroxine and Nitrofurantoin. Out of the twenty-seven (27) isolates, 74% had a multidrug resistance index ≥ 0.2, 14.9% had ≥ 0.5, and 11.1% had <0.2 Multidrug Resistance Index value. This study revealed that azithromycin, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, imipenem/cilastatin, and ofloxacin can be used as a drug of choice for treatment of Gram-positive bacteria associated with hospital wastes while levofloxacin, ofloxacin, ceftriaxone sulbactam, gentamycin, and cefixime could be used for Gram-negative bacteria associated with hospital wastes.

Occurrence, antimicrobial susceptibility, and resistance genes of Staphylococcus aureus in milk and milk products in the Arsi highlands of Ethiopia.

In Ethiopia, milk production and handling practices often lack proper hygiene measures, leading to the potential contamination of milk and milk products with Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), including methicillin-resistant strains,posing significant public health concerns. This study aimed to investigate the occurrence, antimicrobial susceptibility profiles and presence of resistance genes in S. aureus strains isolated from milk and milk products. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Arsi highlands, Oromia, Ethiopia from March 2022 to February 2023. A total of 503 milk and milk product samples were collected, comprising 259 raw milk, 219 cottage cheese, and 25 traditional yogurt samples. S. aureus isolation and coagulase-positive staphylococci enumeration were performed using Baird-Parker agar supplemented with tellurite and egg yolk. S. aureus was further characterized based on colony morphology, Gram stain, mannitol fermentation, catalase test, and coagulase test. Phenotypic antimicrobial resistance was assessed using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method, while the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was employed for confirming the presence of S. aureus and detecting antimicrobial resistance genes. S. aureus was detected in 24.9% of the milk and milk products, with the highest occurrence in raw milk (40.9%), followed by yogurt (20%), and cottage cheese (6.4%). The geometric mean for coagulase-positive staphylococci counts in raw milk, yogurt, and cottage cheese was 4.6, 3.8, and 3.2 log10 CFU/mL, respectively. Antimicrobial resistance analysis revealed high levels of resistance to ampicillin (89.7%) and penicillin G (87.2%), with 71.8% of the isolates demonstrating multidrug resistance. Of the 16 S. aureus isolates analyzed using PCR, all were found to carry the nuc gene, with the mecA and blaZ genes detected in 50% of these isolates each. This study revealed the widespread distribution of S. aureus in milk and milk products in the Arsi highlands of Ethiopia. The isolates displayed high resistance to ampicillin and penicillin, with a concerning level of multidrug resistance. The detection of the mecA and blaZ genes in selected isolates is of particular concern, highlighting a potential public health hazard and posing a challenge to effective antimicrobial treatment. These findings highlight the urgent need to enhance hygiene standards in milk and milk product handling and promote the rational use of antimicrobial drugs. Provision of adequate training for all individuals involved in the dairy sector can help minimize contamination. These measures are crucial in addressing the threats posed by S. aureus, including methicillin-resistant strains, and ensuring the safety of milk and its products for consumers.

Impact of Some Hair Cream Compositions on the Flora Density of Human Scalp

The study assessed the effect of some brands of hair creams coded MBB and SDR on the flora density of the human scalp in parts of Port Harcourt. Twenty volunteered persons subjected their scalp aseptically; for swap collection before and after application of the coded hair creams. Standard microbiological procedure was adopted to culture the scalp samples on prepared sterile nutrient agar, mannitol salt agar, MacConkey agar and Sabouraud destrose agar media. All the inoculated culture media plates were incubated in their respective temperature requirements and after which colonies that developed were counted. The result showed heterotrophic bacteria counts of 9.8 x 103 and 9.3 x 103CFU/ml for before and after application of SDR hair cream, while counts of 1.05 x 104 and 1.07 x 104CFU/ml were obtained from MBB hair volunteers before and after application respectively. Similarly, a Staphylococcal count of 4.5 x 103 and 3.7 x 103CFU/ml were obtained before and after application of SDR hair cream, while counts of 6.2 x 103 and 5 x 102 CFU/ml were obtained from MBB hair before and after application respectively. A total of 53 isolates were recovered from which two bacteria genera namely: Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus and a fungi genera named Candida krusei were identified. Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis were noted with a 12% and 56% occurrence respectively, in sample SDR volunteers. MBB cream volunteers, recovered 14.8 and 7.4 % frequency occurrence for Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus respectively. Thus, a negative effect of hair cream SDR on the human scalp was observed. The SDR hair cream significantly, reduced the Staphylococcal normal flora of the scalp, which can lead to the development of opportunistic infection. The study recommends that users of SDR cream to be mindful in application due to creams composition.

Enhancing Raw Bovine Milk Quality using Ultraviolet-C (UV-C) Irradiation: A Microbial and Lipid Peroxidation Study.

This study investigated the efficacy of ultraviolet-C (UV-C) irradiation in enhancing the quality of raw bovine milk by targeting microbial populations and lipid peroxidation, both of which are key factors in milk spoilage. We categorized the raw milk samples into three groups based on initial bacterial load: low (<3 Log 10 CFU/mL), medium (3-4 Log 10 CFU/mL), and high (>4 Log 10 CFU/mL). Using a 144 W thin-film UV-C reactor, we treated the milk with a flow rate of 3 L/min. We measured the bacterial count including standard plate count, coliform count, coagulase-negative staphylococci count, and lactic acid bacteria count and lipid peroxidation (via thiobarbituric acid reactive substances assay) pre- and post-treatment. Our results show that UV-C treatment significantly reduced bacterial counts, with the most notable reductions observed in high and medium initial load samples (>4 and 3-4 Log 10 CFU/mL, respectively). The treatment was particularly effective against coliforms, showing higher reduction efficiency compared to coagulase-negative staphylococci and lactic acid bacteria. Notably, lipid peroxidation in UV-C treated milk was significantly lower than in pasteurized or untreated milk, even after 72 hours. These findings demonstrate the potential of UV-C irradiation as a pre-treatment method for raw milk, offering substantial reduction in microbial content and prevention of lipid peroxidation, thereby enhancing milk quality.

Bacteriological Analysis of Cow Milk (Nono) Sold Within Gusau Metropolis, Zamfara State

Fresh cow milk popularly called Nono was collected from ten (10) different sellers at different areas within Gusau metropolis and one control was collected directly from a lactating cow and transported immediately to Microbiology Laboratory of Federal University Gusau where they wereassessed for their bacteriological quality. The total bacteria viable count of the ten Nono samples ranged between 6.6 x105 to 2.7 x106 cfu/ml, the total coliforms count ranged between 4.2x105 to 2.2x106cfu/ml, the range of the total Staphylococcal count and total lactic acid bacterial count were 2.5x105 to 4.0x106 cfu/ml and 5.9x105 to 1.7x106 cfu/ml respectively. The control sample had total viable count of 5.6 x 103 cfu/ml, total staphylococcal count of 3.2 x 103 cfu/ml, total lactic acid bacteria count of 4.2 x 103 cfu/ml whereas the coliform count gotten was too few to count (TFTC). The isolates were identified based on their morphological characteristics, Gram's reactions and biochemical profiles and a total of seventy-four (74) bacterial isolates belonging to the genus Lactobacillus, Leuconostoc, Streptococcus, Micrococcus, Pediococcus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas, Proteus, Klebsiella, Enterobacter and Staphylococcus spp. were identified from the eleven samples analyzed. The presence of Lactic Acid Bacteria in Nono is very good as they are one of the most significant groups of probiotic which not only enhance lactose digestion but also stimulate the immune system, However, the presence of E. coli and the other enterobacteriaceae and Staphylococcus sp. is of public health concern because they can cause several diseases therefore it was concluded that the bacterial loads of the Nono samples were not satisfactory with the exception of the control which had organisms within the acceptable limit of 30,000/ml for raw milk. The presence of potential pathogenic bacteria in all of the Nono samples is an indication that the samples were contaminated and this can potentially cause diseases to the consumers, Hence the need for public enlightenment for handlers and producers of Nono to observe good manufacturing practices in production and storage of the product to avoid outbreak of infections associated with the organisms encountered in this study.

Occurrence of Staphylococcus aureus in Different Cheese Varieties And Its Control By Thyme Oil

The present study aimed to detect the occurrence of Staphylococcus aureus in different cheese varieties in Kafr Elsheikh Governorate, Egypt, and to characterize enterotoxin virulence related genes (Sea, Seb) in the recovered Staph. aureus isolates. An additional objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of thyme oil 1% for controlling staphylococcal species in manufactured kariesh cheese with 1 and 5% salt. A total of 120 samples of different cheese samples including Damietta, kariesh, spreadable processed and Ras cheese (30 of each type) collected from different supermarkets and street-vendor at Kafr El-Sheikh governorate. The obtained results revealed the incidence of Staph. aureus wwere6.67%, 16.67%, 13.33%, and 13.33%, respectively, with overall incidence across all cheese samples was 12.5%. 23S rRNA gene was detected in staph. aureus strains isolated from damietta, kariesh, processed cheese, and Ras cheese at incidence level 6.67%, 10%, 6.67%, and 10% respectively. Seb was detected in a single Staphylococcus aureus isolate from kariesh, processed cheese, and Ras cheese, while Sea could not detect in all examined isolates. Reducing the presence of Staphylococcus aureus in kariesh cheese is crucial, as it is a favorable environment for this pathogen, which can lead to staphylococcal food poisoning. By lowering the pathogen's level in kariesh cheese, the risk to consumers can be minimized. A combination of 1% thyme oil with 1% salt demonstrated moderate inhibition against staphylococcal count, resulting in a 7.34% reduction on the 15th day of storage. Additionally, using 1% thyme oil with 5% salt resulted in a double reduction rate of 15.27% on the 15th day of storage. These findings suggest that incorporating thyme oil in the preservation of white soft kariesh cheese holds promise for enhancing its shelf life and safety.

Antibiotic Resistant Profile of Coliform and Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Paneer Sample of Kathmandu Valley

Microbial contamination with antibiotic- resistant bacteria are major threats to public health in Nepal. This study aims to detect microbial quality of paneer and determine antibiotic susceptibility pattern of coliforms and S. aureus isolated from Paneer. For this, 30 paneer samples were randomly collected from dairy shops in Kathmandu and respective bacterial count were determined by using pour plate technique. All isolated organisms were identified by biochemical tests using appropriate selective media. Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing (AST) was carried out by Kirby Bauer disk diffusion method. In this study, Total Bacterial Count (TBC) of 18 (60.1%) samples, Total Coliform Count (TCC) of 5 (16.6%) samples and Total Staphylococcal Count (TSC) of 6 (50%) samples were within the limit of FSSAI guideline (2012). A total of forty-six bacteria were isolated in this study, of which 34 (73.9%) were identified as coliforms and 12 (26.1%) were identified as S. aureus. The coliform bacteria showed higher resistance towards Azithromycin (100%) followed by Cefoxitin, Ampicillin, Amikacin, Levofloxacin, Nalidixic acid, Chloramphenicol, Tetracycline and Gentamicin in descending order. While in case of S. aureus, higher resistance was shown against Penicillin. G (41.7%) and Nalidixic acid (41.7%) followed by Cefoxitin, Ampicillin, Azithromycin, Chloramphenicol and Levofloxacin. 4 (33.4%) MRSA were identified based on their full resistance towards Cefoxitin. Also, 24 multiple-drug resistance (MDR) bacteria were detected and higher MDR was observed among coliforms 21 (87.5%). To summarize, the maximum number of samples exceeding microbial quality specification and presence of multiple antibiotic resistance among isolated bacteria signifies poor quality of the paneer available in the market and can be considered a possible threat to consumers. Therefore, it is utmost necessary to monitor and control the quality of paneer sold in Kathmandu.

Assessment of the Microbiological Safety and Hygiene of Raw and Thermally Treated Milk Cheeses Marketed in Central Italy between 2013 and 2020.

A profile of the microbial safety and hygiene of cheese in central Italy was defined based on an analysis of 1373 cheeses sampled under the Italian National Control Plan for Food Safety spanning the years 2013 to 2020 and tested according to Commission Regulation (EC) No. 2073/2005 (as amended). A total of 97.4% of cheese samples were assessed as being satisfactory for food safety criteria and 80.5% for process hygiene criteria. Staphylococcal enterotoxin was found in 2/414 samples, while Salmonella spp. and Listeria monocytogenes were detected in 15 samples out of 373 and 437, respectively. Escherichia coli and coagulase-positive staphylococci counts were found unsatisfactory in 12/61 and 17/88 cheese samples, respectively. The impact of milking species, milk thermal treatment, and cheese hardness category was considered. A statistically significant association (p < 0.05) was found between milk thermal treatment and the prevalence of coagulase-positive staphylococci and Listeria monocytogenes and between hardness and unsatisfactory levels of Escherichia coli. The data depict a contained public health risk associated with these products and confirm, at the same time, the importance of strict compliance with good hygiene practices during milk and cheese production. These results can assist in bolstering risk analysis and providing insights for food safety decision making.

Microbial Profile of Fresh and Semicooked Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and Hygienic Practice of Fish Handlers in Hawassa, Ethiopia.

Despite its high nutritional quality, fish is a highly perishable food item. This study aimed at assessing the microbial quality and safety of fresh and semicooked Nile tilapia fish fillets and the food safety practices of fish handlers in Hawassa City. The microbial load of 40 for each of raw and semicooked fillet samples was estimated by the standard plate count method, and the dominant flora as well as common bacterial pathogens were identified following phenotypic procedures. Moreover, a survey was conducted to assess the hygienic conditions and food safety practices of 30 fish handlers. The mean microbial load of the raw fillet samples in log10CFUg-1 was 8.42 for aerobic mesophilic bacteria (AMBC), 2.52 for total coliforms (TCC), and 3.41 for a count of staphylococci (CS). On the other hand, the respective parameters for the semicooked fillets in log10CFUg-1 were 6.68 (AMBC), 2.52 (TCC), and 3.17 (CS). The mean AMBC of all the fresh raw fillet samples exceeded the recommended maximum permissible limits. The mean SC of raw fillets from three of the eight vendors and one semicooked fillet were at a potentially hazardous level (>4 log units). Moreover, Salmonella species were isolated from 30% to 25% of raw and semicooked samples, respectively. The mesophilic bacterial flora of both types of samples was dominated by Bacillus species, Salmonella species, E coli, and Staphylococcus species. Most fish handlers did not practice hygienic food handling and lacked basic sanitation amenities like clean water and soap for hand washing. Moreover, nearly all the fish handlers did not have any formal education. These findings call for public health intervention measures like the provision of training in good hygienic practices and certification for fish vendors in the chain.

Evaluation of Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria from Organic Fertilized Farm Soils and Waterleaf (Talinum triangulare) in Aluu, Rivers State, Nigeria

The use of antibiotics in agriculture is believed to contribute to the spread of antibiotic resistance, and consumption of vegetables represents a route of direct human exposure to resistant bacteria found in soil. This study was carried out to isolate and characterize antibiotic resistant bacteria from poultry dropping fertilized farm soils in Aluu community Rivers State. Thirty-six (36) soil and waterleaf (Talinum triangulare) samples were collected for a period of three months from the vegetable farms and subjected to standard microbiological procedures such as standard plate counts, identification, sensitivity testing using Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method and molecular identification. The total heterotrophic bacterial (THB), Staphylococcal, and total coliform counts ranged from2.72±0.52x106 to 7.30±3.54x106Cfu/g; 0x105to 4.30±0.28x105Cfu/g; 0x105 to 21.40±2.26x105Cfu/g and 2.65±0.21x105 to 3.10±0.85x105Cfu/g for FarmsA, B and C respectively. There was a significant difference (p˂0.05) in the total heterotrophic, coliform bacterial count but no significant difference in Staphylococcal and Salmonella-Shigella count between the different vegetable farms sampled in month one. THB, Staphylococcal, Faecal coliform (FC), coliform, Salmonella-Shigella counts ranged from3.80±1.83x106 to 4.69±1.69x106cfu/g; 1.08±0.04x105 to 1.40±0.11x105Cfu/g; 2.00±0.42x104 to 8.30±2.12x104Cfu/g; 3.95±0.21x105 to 5.95±0.21x105Cfu/g and 1.20±0.28x104to 2.40±0.85x104Cfu/g for FarmsA and B respectively. There was no significant difference (p˂0.05) in the THB, Salmonella-Shigella, Total coliform (TC) counts, but there was a significant difference in the Staphylococcal and faecal coliform counts between the different vegetable farms sampled for month two. The bacterial isolates identified were as follows; Escherichia coli, Enterobacter spp, Shigella spp, Salmonella spp, Pseudomonas spp Proteus spp, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis, Serratia marcesens and Serratia nematodiphila. Forty-six (46) bacterial isolates were isolated from the soils and vegetables. Escherichia coli had the highest occurrence (75%) and Bacillus spp (9.09%) had the least occurrence. The susceptibility pattern of Bacillus spp, Staphylococcus spp, Enterobacter spp, Salmonella spp, Escherichia coli, Shigella spp, Pseudomonas sppand Proteus sppwere all susceptible to Ofloxacin, and gentamicin (100%) and resistant to Ceftazidime, Cefixime and Augmentin (100%). Hundred-percent (100%) of the bacterial isolates had multidrug resistance index greater than 0.2 and QnrA resistant gene were found in the resistant bacterial isolates. In conclusion, the use of antibiotic indiscriminately for agricultural purposes should be discouraged because of multiple antibiotic resistance.

Comparative Effects of Prepared and Vended Herbs on Selected Diarrhoegenic Bacteria in Ekiti State

Herbs contamination by some pathogenic bacteria poses a major threat to the usage as a treatment option for diarrheagenic bacteria. This study was carried out to determine the comparative effects of prepared and vended herbs sold within Ado-Ekiti metropolis on selected diarrhogenic bacteria. Herb was prepared in the laboratory under a strict aseptic condition, and a total of 50 vended herbs samples were purchased from vendors across ten different locations within Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State. All herb samples were analyzed using standard microbiological techniques, total bacteria count, Staphylococcal counts, coliform counts and fungal counts were carried out. Bacteria colonies on the agar plates were identified using morphological and biochemical characterization. The susceptibility testing of the vended and prepared herbs on selected diarrheagenic bacteria; Shigella dysenteriae, Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhi were carried out using agar well diffusion method. The haematological and histological effects of the herbs were done using standard haematological and histological procedures respectively. The data generated were analysed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the level of significance was set at 0.05. There was a low microbial count in the prepared herb compared to the vended herbs, Staphylococcal counts, coliform counts and fungal counts of the vended herbs ranged from 15.50±0.65 to 52.00±0.36 cfu/100ml, 7.00±0.40 to 22.00±0.13 cfu/100ml, 8.50±0.15 to 36.50±0.20 cfu/100ml and 1.50±0.50 to 8.00±0.40 sfu/100ml respectively while the total bacterial counts of prepared herbs ranged from 1.00±0.01 to 2.00±0.00 cfu/100ml. There was a low microbial count in the herbs vended by those with more than 9 years herb vending experiences compared to others. Nine different bacteria species were isolated from vended herb samples with Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus 8(22.2%) being the most frequently occurred bacteria and followed by Enterobacter aerogenes and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was 4(11.11%) occurrence. The laboratory prepared herbs exhibited a better antibacterial activity against the tested diarrheagenic bacteria (S. dysenteriae (6.00±0.00 mm), E. coli (10.00±0.10 mm) and S. typhi (8.00±0.40 mm) compared to the vended herbs. The bacteria isolated from the vended herbs showed higher resistant against augmentin and amoxicillin. The haematological profile of the rats showed a significant increase in the white blood cell counts. There were also multiple foci of hepatic necrosis with cellular aggregation around the same foci in the liver and diffuse tubular degeneration and necrosis with the tubular epithelium completely eroded in the kidney of the rat. However, occurrence of these bacteria in vended herbs could predispose consumers to the risk of infections with pathogenic and antimicrobial resistant bacteria. Also, the herbs could be a source of toxicity showed in both histological and haematological parameters, which could pose a life-threatening disease to the consumer. Therefore, steps involve in the preparation of the herb must be standardize to prevent the microbial contamination.

Efficacy of processing methods on the proximate composition and microbial loads in Senilia senilis (Linnaeus, 1758) in mangrove swamps of Iko estuary, southeast, Nigeria

The traditional uses of Senilia senilis by the inhabitants of Iko town, Eastern Obolo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria are enormous. A total of 250 samples of S. senilis was collected from the sampling site over a period of twelve (12) months and randomly subjected to four (4) different processing methods. Standard analytical procedures were used for proximate compositions and microbiological examination. Eleven (11) bacterial species and six (6) fungal species were isolated. Mean Total Heterotrophic Bacteria Count (THBC) of 1.72 × 105 cfu g−1 was recorded with least in shell (1.61 ± 1.7x105cfu g−1) and highest in gut (1.92 ± 2.1 × 105). Mean Total Vibrio Count (TVC) was 7.62 × 10−1cfu g−1 and followed the same pattern. Mean Total Coliform Count (TCC) was 3.33 × 101 cfu g−1 with least in flesh and highest in gut. Mean Total Salmonella Shigella (TSS) of 2.40 × 102 cfu g−1 was recorded and followed the same pattern. Mean Total staphylococcal Count (TSC) was 5.62 × 10−1 cfu g−1 with none on shell. Mean Total Fungal Count (TFC) was 3.33 × 104 cfu g−1 with least in shell and highest in flesh. THBC was low in fried (1.44 ± 0.43 × 104) and salted (1.43 ± 0.95b x104), TVC low in salted (1.15 ± 0.85 × 10), TCC low in salted (1.59 ± 0.42 × 10), while TSS and TSC were completely destroyed in frozen, fried and salted samples. TFC was low in salted (1.11 ± 0.09 × 104). Microbes were eradicated differentially across treatments. Proximate composition was mildly affected by the different processing. Generally, salting emerged first. However, a combination of some methods may produce a synergic effect.