12 research outputs found
Identification of drug-resistant Salmonella from food handlers at the University of Gondar, Ethiopia
No full textIdentification of gram-negative bacteria from critical control points of raw and pasteurized cow milk consumed at Gondar town and its suburbs, Ethiopia
No full textAbstract Background Milk is highly prone to contamination and can serve as an efficient vehicle for human transmission of foodborne pathogens, especially gram-negative bacteria, as these are widely distributed in the environment. Methods This cross-sectional study of gram-negative staining bacterial contamination of milk meant for human consumption was carried out from October 2010 to May 2011 in Gondar town, Ethiopia. Milk samples were collected from critical control points, from production to consumption, that were hypothesized to be a source of potential contamination. Milk sampling points included smallholder’s milk producers, dairy co-operatives, a milk processing plant, and supermarkets. The hygienic procedures applied during milking, milk collection, transportation, pasteurization, and postpasteurization storage conditions at these specified critical control points were evaluated. Standard bacteriological cultivation and biochemical assays were used to isolate and identify bacterial pathogens in the milk samples. Results The results of the current study showed that conditions for contamination of raw milk at different critical points were due to less hygienic practices in pre-milking udder preparation, sub-optimal hygiene of milk handlers, and poor sanitation practices associated with milking and storage equipments. Among all critical control points considered, transportation containers at milk collection centers and at processing plants were found to be the most heavily contaminated with gram-negative staining bacterial species. Overall, 54 different bacterial species were indentified, and Escherichia coli (29.6%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (18.5%), and Klebsiella pneumoniae (16.7%), were the most commonly identified gram-negative staining bacterial pathogens. Of particular interest was that no gram-negative staining bacteria were isolated from pasteurized milk samples with varying shelf life. Conclusion This study showed the presence of diverse pathogenic gram-negative staining bacterial species in raw milk that may be attributed to the sub-optimal sanitary conditions in the production and processing of milk in the Gondar town region. These results highlighted the need to maintain appropriate sanitary and hygienic measures at each critical point in order to safeguard consumers from foodborne pathogens. Further studies are recommended to identify additional critical control points, and to assess zoonotic risk factors to consumers.</p
The detection and antimicrobial susceptibility profile of Shigella isolates from meat and swab samples at butchers’ shops in Gondar town, Northwest Ethiopia
No full textSummaryFood borne pathogens are major causes of deaths, illnesses and billions of dollars of expenses. The burden of food borne illness is worsened by the ever increasing rate of antimicrobial resistance microbes. Shigella, a bacterial pathogen associated with food, is reported to account for higher prevalence rates of food borne illness in different settings. A cross-sectional study was conducted from February 10 to June 30, 2013, at the butcher houses of Gondar town in the Northwest of Ethiopia to assess the prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of Shigella. Cattle raw meat and swab samples from selected critical control points, including knives, chopping boards, and the hands and noses of butchers, were collected and analyzed. The identification of Shigella was carried out using colony characteristics, the Gram reaction, and biochemical tests. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the Kirby–Bauer disc diffusion method. The overall hygienic status of the butcher shops was also assessed using a checklist. An observational analysis revealed that the sanitary condition of the butcher shops and their premises was poor. Of 306 samples screened, 10.5% were positive for Shigella. Approximately 7.4% of meat samples and 10.2% of swab samples were contaminated with Shigella. Out of the total Shigella isolates, 90.6%, 46.9%, 18.8% and 9.4% were resistant to ampicillin, amoxicillin, ceftriaxone and tetracycline, respectively. A multidrug resistance pattern was recorded in 27.8% of the isolates. In conclusion, the safety of meat sold at Gondar butchers houses was poor. The identified Shigella isolates showed high levels of drug resistance and multidrug resistance patterns for commonly used antimicrobials in veterinary and human medicine. Practicing wise use of antimicrobials and strict sanitary interventions at different critical control points is strongly recommended, in addition to further in-depth studies to prevent unprecedented consequences from shigellosis
Staphylococcus aureus in mastitic crossbreed cows and its associated risk factors in Addis Ababa City, Ethiopia
No full textA cross sectional study was conducted in dairy farms of Addis Ababa city from November 2011 to April 2012 to estimate the prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus and its associated risk factors in mastitic dairy cows. Milk samples were collected from 153 (50 clinical and 103 subclinical) mastitic lactating crossbred cows and were subjected to laboratory examination for identification of Staphylococcus aureus. Of the 153 mastitic cows, 67 were Zebu-Holstein Frisian and 86 were ZebuJersey crossbred. Bacterial identification was based on colony morphology, gram staining characteristics, and enzymatic tests including catalase and coagulase. Staphylococcus aureus was identified in 74 (48.4%) milk samples. It was higher (n= 63, 61.1 %) in subclinical cases as compared to clinical form of the disease (n= 11, 22%). The occurrence of bovine mastitis associated with Staphylococcus aureus varied significantly (p<0.05) between breed, lactation stage, parity and age. It was higher (n= 49, 56.9%) in Zebu-Jersey than Zebu-Holstein Frisian (n= 25, 37.3%) crossbred cows. Staphyloccocal mastitis is a major health problem in dairy farm of Addis Ababa causing huge economic loss. Furthermore, Staphylococcus aureus can leads to public health hazard through consumption of raw milk or milk products from infected animals. Therefore, early diagnosis and screening of cows for mastitis is important to limit spread of the disease. Appropriate control and prevention measures should be in place to reduce Staphylococcus aureus mediated bovine mastitis. Routine pasteurization of milk should also be practiced to safeguard the public health.Keywords: Addis Ababa, Crossbred Cows, Prevalence, Mastitis, Staphylococcus aureu
Prevalence and Antimicrobial Resistance of Salmonella Isolated from Animal-Origin Food Items in Gondar, Ethiopia
No full textSalmonella has been found to be the major cause of foodborne diseases and a serious public health problem in the world, with an increasing concern for the emergence and spread of antimicrobial-resistant strains. A cross-sectional study was conducted between February 2014 and December 2015 on food items of animal origin to assess the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance profiles of Salmonella isolates using standard bacteriological methods. The overall prevalence rate of 5.5% was recorded from the total analyzed food items of animal origin. Salmonella isolates were detected from 12% of raw meat, 8% of minced meat, 2.9% of burger samples, 18% of raw eggs, and 6% of raw milk. Furthermore, antimicrobial susceptibility test identified 47.6% resistant Salmonella isolates, 28.6% intermediately sensitive isolates, and 23.8% susceptible isolates. Among Salmonella isolates tested, 42.6%, 28.6%, and 14.3% were found to be relatively resistant to tetracycline, sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim, and ampicillin, respectively, while 9.5%-19% were intermediately resistant to tetracycline, amoxicillin, ampicillin, cephalothin, and nitrofurantoin. Therefore, our findings provide the prevalence and drug resistance of Salmonella from foods of animal origin and contribute information to scientists as well as public health researchers to minimize the prevalent and resistant foodborne Salmonella species in Ethiopia
Diverse Gram-positive bacteria identified from raw and pasteurized cow milk consumed at Gondar town and its environs, Ethiopia
No full textBacterial agents, especially gram-positive bacteria as they are widely distributed in the environment, may contaminate milk all the way from udder of the cow to finished products. This cross-sectional study was carried out from October 2010 to May 2011 on contamination of milk meant for human consumption in Gondar town, Ethiopia. Milk samples were collected from critical control points that were hypothesized to be sources of potential contamination including smallholder milk producers, dairy co-operatives, a milk processing plant, and supermarkets. The hygienic procedures applied during milking, milk collection, transportation, pasteurization, and post pasteurization storage conditions were evaluated. Standard bacteriological cultivation and biochemical assays were used to isolate and identify bacterial species. The results of the current study showed that conditions for contamination of raw milk at different critical points were due to less hygienic practices in udder preparation, sub-optimal hygiene of milk handlers, and poor sanitation practices associated with milking and storage equipment. This was evidenced by the dominant presence of Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus that can lead to public health hazard due to food poisoning related to enterotoxin production. Out of 140 gram-positive species identified, coagulase positive (32.15%) and coagulase negative (15. 71 %) Staphylococcus species, Rhodococcus equi (18.57%), Bacillus cereus (12.86%), Nocardia asteroids (5. 71 %) and Micrococcus species (5%) were the most commonly identified pathogens. Generally, 71.43% of the isolates were categorized under cocci while the remaining isolates were rods. In conclusion, this study showed the presence of diverse pathogenic gram-positive bacterial species in raw and pasteurized milk in Gondar town. These results highlighted the need to maintain appropriate sanitary and hygienic measures at each critical point in order to safeguard consumers from food borne pathogens.Keywords: Bacteria, Critical control points, Hygiene, Mil
Prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility profile of listeria species from ready-to-eat foods of animal origin in Gondar Town, Ethiopia
No full textEfficacy of Lytic Phage Cocktails on Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Mixed-Species Planktonic Cultures and Biofilms
No full textThe efficacy of phages in multispecies infections has been poorly examined. The in vitro lytic efficacies of phage cocktails AB-SA01, AB-PA01, which target Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, respectively, and their combination against their hosts were evaluated in S. aureus and P. aeruginosa mixed-species planktonic and biofilm cultures. Green fluorescent protein (GFP)-labelled P. aeruginosa PAO1 and mCherry-labelled S. aureus KUB7 laboratory strains and clinical isolates were used as target bacteria. During real-time monitoring using fluorescence spectrophotometry, the density of mCherry S. aureus KUB7 and GFP P. aeruginosa PAO1 significantly decreased when treated by their respective phage cocktail, a mixture of phage cocktails, and gentamicin. The decrease in bacterial density measured by relative fluorescence strongly associated with the decline in bacterial cell counts. This microplate-based mixed-species culture treatment monitoring through spectrophotometry combine reproducibility, rapidity, and ease of management. It is amenable to high-throughput screening for phage cocktail efficacy evaluation. Each phage cocktail, the combination of the two phage cocktails, and tetracycline produced significant biofilm biomass reduction in mixed-species biofilms. This study result shows that these phage cocktails lyse their hosts in the presence of non-susceptible bacteria. These data support the use of phage cocktails therapy in infections with multiple bacterial species
Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Salmonellosis in Addis Ababa City, Ethiopia
No full textBackground. Diagnosis using reliable tools and treatment followingin vitroantimicrobial susceptibility tests are critical to proper addressing of antibiotic-resistantSalmonellainfection.Methodology. A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the practice of diagnosis and treatment of salmonellosis in Addis Ababa. Tube Widal test (for blood samples only), culture, biochemical and carbohydrate fermentation, serotyping, and antimicrobial susceptibility tests were employed for both blood and stool samples.Results. Of all the diseases listed in the diagnosis, nontyphoidal (n=72, 13.71%) and typhoidal (n=47, 8.95%) salmonellosis were the second and third common diseases. Among the 288 blood samples, almost half were positive for O, H, or both antigens. However, only 1 (0.68%) of the positive blood samples yieldedSalmonellaisolate during culture. The study demonstrated low specificity (0.68%) and positive predictive value (48.78%) of Widal test. Conversely, the test showed 100% sensitivity and negative predictive values.Salmonellaisolates were identified from 7 (7.07%) of 99 stool samples. Two-thirds of salmonellosis suspected patients received antibiotic treatment. However, only half of the confirmed salmonellosis patients were treated with appropriate antibiotics. All of the isolates were susceptible to ciprofloxacin and ceftriaxone but resistant to ampicillin.Conclusions. Majority of the patients who participated in this study were wrongly diagnosed using symptoms, clinical signs, and tube Widal test. Consequently, most of the patients received inappropriate treatment.</jats:p
Safe menstrual hygiene management practice and associated factors among female adolescent students at high schools in central Ethiopia: A mixed–method study
No full textBACKGROUND: Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) is a much-neglected issue in developing countries, including Ethiopia. Menstruating women and girls are forced into isolation, prevented from movement, dietary restrictions, and can be prevented from participating in daily routine activities. Furthermore, the way almost all previous studies conducted in Ethiopia measured the practice of MHM did not meet standard definition of safe MHM. This study aimed to assess safe management of menstrual hygiene practice and associated factors among female adolescent students in public high schools in central Ethiopia. METHODS: A mixed-methods approach was employed in this study. Systematic random sampling technique was used to select 846 study participants. The collected data were entered through EPI INFO version 7 and exported to SPSS version 23 for cleaning and analysis. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed to identify the association between MHM and independent variables. Finally, AOR, 95% CI, and p-value < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. The qualitative data was analyzed by ATLAS.ti in order to extract the main themes and categories. Direct quotations were presented with a thick description of the findings. RESULTS: The safe management of menstrual hygiene was 28.20%. Living with parents (AOR = 2.51, 95% CI:1.11–5.68), living with relatives (AOR = 7.41, 95% CI:2.55–21.54), having a merchant mother (AOR = 1.81, 95% CI:1.14–2.9), having a mother who has private work (AOR = 4.56, 95% CI:1.31–5.90), having a farmer father (AOR = 1.53, 95% CI:1.1–2.31), rural resident (AOR = 1.61, 95% CI: 1.17–2.21) and realizing the absence of container for storing sanitary napkins in the toilet of the school latrine (AOR = 1.44, 95% CI: 1.1–0.94) were factors associated with MHM. Findings from a qualitative study were discussed under four themes to explore barriers to menstrual hygiene management, and three themes emerged as enablers to menstrual hygiene management. CONCLUSIONS: The safe management of menstrual hygiene was low among adolescent girls. People with whom adolescent girls live, the occupational status of mother and father, residence, the availability of a container to dispose of sanitary napkins in school toilets were factors associated with menstrual hygiene management. Behavioral change communications must be provided to female students about menstrual hygiene
