Background
Food-associated antibiotic-resistant bacteria can cause infections that may critically impact human health. The objectives of this study were to determine the microbial contamination level of green leafy vegetables and their antibiotic resistance pattern.
Methods
Sixty-three samples of leafy vegetables were collected from Dammam Central Fruit and Vegetables Market from January to June 2023. The vegetables included lettuce (
Lactuca sativa
), parsley (
Petroselinum crispum
), and watercress (
Nasturtium officinale
). Samples were tested by standard microbiological techniques for identification and antibiotic susceptibility testing.
Result
Eight types of bacteria belonging to six different genera were detected.
Enterobacteriaceae
family was represented by four genera:
Klebsiella
,
Proteus
,
Morganella
, and
Enterobacter
. The other two genera were
Pseudomonas
and
Aeromonas
.
Enterobacter cloacae
was the most abundant organism, followed by
Pseudomonas putida
and
Aeromonas sobria
. On the other hand,
Morganella morganii
,
Aeromonas hydrophila
, and
Proteus mirabilis
were the least abundant. The three vegetable types had different levels of bacterial contamination. All isolated organisms were sensitive to penicillin, cephalosporin, aminoglycoside, and fluoroquinolone. However,
Klebsiella oxytoca
,
M
.
morganii
, and
K
.
pneumonia
showed resistance to ampicillin.
A
.
hydrophila
,
Morganella morganii
, and
E
.
cloacae
showed resistance to amoxicillin.
M
.
morganii
and
E
.
cloacae
were found to be resistant to cefalotin. Moreover,
A
.
hydrophila
,
M
.
morganii
, and
E
.
cloacae
were resistant to cefoxitin. Again,
A. hydrophila
was found to be resistant to imipenem. Only
M
.
morganii
was resistant to Ciprofloxacin. Two isolates,
P
.
mirabilis
and
M
.
morganii
were resistant to tigecycline. Another...