Antibiotic susceptibility of enteric bacteria isolated from ready-to-eat meat balangu in Kogi State, Nigeria

Abstract

Antimicrobial susceptibility of 212 enteric bacterial isolates from 60 samples of Balangu (ready-to-eat meat) was determined using the disk diffusion method. Based on the traditional bacteriological techniques, the enteric bacteria were identified as Proteus spp., Enterobacter spp., Escherichia coli, Serratia spp., Klebsiella spp., Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., Citrobacter spp. and Edwardsiella spp. Antibiotic susceptibility of these enteric bacteria showed that >90% of the isolates were resistant to nitrofurantion, cefuroxime, tetracycline and ampicillin. The resistance pattern of the isolates against nitrofurantion, cefuroxime, tetracycline and ampicillin was significant (P<0.05). Resistance of the isolates to nalixidic acid, gentamicin and chloramphenicol was as follows: 81.1, 69.8 and 62.3%. Less than 20% were resistant to ciprofloxacin and augmentin. Enteric bacteria of public health importance (E. coli, Salmonella spp., Shigella spp. and Klebsiella spp.) were observed to exhibit varying levels of antimicrobial resistance. The level of antimicrobial resistance recorded portrays an increase in the transfer of antimicrobial resistance between bacterial populations in the environment. Strict hygeinic measures should be undertaken during the processing and sale of meat and meat products to reduce microbial contamination and transmission of antimicrobial resistant bacteria to consumers.