An assessment of Hygiene Indicator Bacteria and MDR Salmonella on Poultry Butchers’ hands and Rinsing Water at XDR Salmonella Struck Areas

Abstract

F OOD-borne diseases are a major health problem in developing countries including Pakistan. With regard to meat hygiene, the question is posed whether carriers of pathogenic organisms, like Salmonella, shigella, and E. coli can contaminate a product with their hands. This might be possible in case of not using appropriate water, not maintaining proper hand hygiene during mean handling or due to bad toilet hygiene. This study was thus conducted to determine the prevalence of some selected hygiene indicator bacteria on the hands of poultry butchers and their hand washing water in two selected districts of Pakistan, i.e. Hyderabad and Jamshoro. Three hygiene indicator bacteria, Salmonella, Shigella, and E. coli were focused in this regard and for Salmonella spp. antibiotic resistance was also determine. Total 76 samples were collected (38 water and 38 hands). Isolation of bacteria were carried out by some standard microbiological techniques. Out of 38 water samples, 76.3%, 81.5% and 81.5% of samples were positive for Salmonella, Shigella, and E. coli. While for butchers' hand samples, the prevalence of Salmonella, Shigella, and E. coli was found as 92.1%, 97.3%, and 100%. The overall antibiotic resistance is as follows: ampicillin (89%), azithromycin (3.1%), ceftazidime (0%), gentamicin (25.5%), cefotaxime (25%), erythromycin (40.6%), neomycin (31.2%), streptomycin (48.4%), and sulphamethoxazole (50%). Percentage of Multi-drug resistant (MDR) isolates found in water and butchers' hands sample is 50% and 71.4%. One Extremelydrug resistant (XDR) isolate is also found in hands samples. The high prevalence of Salmonella, Shigella, and E. coli in butchers' hands and hand washing water can transfer to the meat and cause many foodborne infections in meat consumers.

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