Introduction: Bacterial contamination in milk is increasingly becoming a global health threat that is predisposing humans to various food-borne pathogens. This study is carried out to isolate and identify the possible common bacteria which cause milk contamination and the risks associated with it in Biharwe. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in Biharwe small holder dairy farms, Kashari Sub County, Mbarara district, from March 2022 to October 2022 to assess bacterial contamination, isolate, identify, and test antibiotic susceptibility patterns of organisms. A total of 20 milk samples were randomly collected from 20 privately owned small holder dairy farms with healthy lactating animals. Isolation and identification of organisms was carried out by using biochemical tests. The bacteria so identified and their isolation rate were E. coli (20%), Citrobacter freundii (40%), Enterobacter Cloacae (30%), Enterobacter agglomerans (10%). These are indicative of significant contamination of milk and important human pathogens. The antibiotic susceptibility test was performed on Mueller-Hinton agar by the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. About 100 % of E. coli isolates was sensitive to Tetracycline with 0% resistance, 75% of Citrobacter freundii was sensitive to Tetracycline with 25% resistant isolates, 100% of Entrobacter cloacae was sensitive to Tetracycline with 0% resistance, and 100% of E. agglomerans was sensitive with 0% resistance. Overall 90% of the isolates were sensitive to Tetracycline with only 10% resistance. All the bacterial isolates were 100% sensitive to Gentamicin with 0% resistant. 100% of Citrobacter freundii, Entrobacter cloacae and Enterobacter agglomerans isolateswas resistant to Ampicillin while only 50% of E.coli isolates was sensitive to Ampicillin. 100% of Entrobacter cloacae, E.coli and Enterobacter agglomerans isolates was sensitive to Streptomycin while 75% of Citrobacter freundii was sensitive and 25% was resistant to Streptomycin. Citrobacter freundii was the only isolated organism resistant to more than one antibiotic (100% resistant to Ampicillin and 25% resistant to Tetracycline and Streptomycin). Therefore, the pattern of antibiotic susceptibility tests among the isolates is statistically significant in Gentamicin (P=0.00). Conclusion: This study revealed that raw cow’s milk in the study area could be an important source of infection with a wide range of organisms, particularly gram-negative bacteria. An important source of microbial contamination of milk is fecal pollution probably cow dung. There is need for instituting effective control measures to protect public health. This includes mandatory milk pasteurization by traders and improved hygienic handling of containers during milking, ensuring milking is not done on floors with cow dung.

Antimicrobials have been used extensively in Livestock production. The overuse and misuse of antimicrobials has resulted in the development of drug resistant pathogens that is Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). The emergence and spread of drug resistant pathogens has resulted into AMR and has continued to threaten our veterinary and health care systems. The most alarming situations include the rapid global spread of multi-and pan-resistant bacteria which have been referred to as “superbugs”. These have caused infections that are un-treatable with the available medicines in our health care and veterinary settings.AMR is one of the top ten global health and development threats facing humans and animals according to the World Health Organization hence the need for urgent multisectoral action. Antimicrobials are medicines used for prophylaxis, treatment and prevention of infections in animals, humans and plants. They comprise of antibiotics, antiviral, antifungal and antiparasitics. Antibiotics are increasingly losing their effectiveness as drug-resistance spreads globally resulting into difficulty in treating infections, death of animals and humans. In this paper, we addressed some of the innovative solutions based on an interdisciplinary perspective. We discussed the fundamental concerns for defining policies and strategies to mitigate AMR in Livestock farming, structured a basis for AMR policies and strategies and the key actors in Antimicrobial decision systems.