Isolation of enteric bacteria from asymptomatic food handlers

Abstract

The study was carried out to determine the prevalence and antimicrobial sensitivity pattern of enteric bacteria isolated from food handlers within Bells University of Technology, Ota, Ogun State. Stool samples from thirty-five food handlers were collected. The samples were cultured on Salmonella-Shigella agar and MacConkey agar and growth was observed in all samples. The organisms isolated were Salmonella species (8.6%), Escherichia coli (8.6%), Proteus vulgaris (51.4%), Citrobacter freundii (8.6%), Staphylococcus saprophyticus (8.6%), Providencia sp. (2.9%), and Enterococcus sp. (17.1%). The most prevalent of these organisms is Proteus vulgaris and the least prevalent of these organisms is Providencia sp. Antibiotic sensitivity test showed that majority of the isolates in this study were sensitive to ofloxacin, augmentin, nitrofurantoin, ciprofloxacin, ceftazidime and gentamicin, and showed various degree of sensitivity to cefuroxime. While most of the isolates were resistant to cefixime. Based on the result antibiotics such as gentamicin, augmentin, and ofloxacin are most efficient for the diseases that can be caused by these isolated enteric bacteria while previously use antibiotic such as cefixime was poorly effective against majority of the isolates in this study. Health education along with continuous food safety training should be given to food handlers so as to adhere to effective hygienic practices which can help in preventing transmission of these enteric bacteria to the consumers.