AFAB

Keywords: antibiotic resistant bacteria, fresh vegetables, Isolation, plasmid profile

Abstract:

This study was carried out to evaluate the total bacterial load and to isolate and identify antibiotic resistant bacteria in fresh vegetables sold in the local markets of Dhaka city and also to determine its resistance pattern to antibiotics. The highest Aerobic Plate Count (APC) found in tomato and carrot samples of local markets were 5.17 log10 colony forming units (CFU/g) (Annanda Bazar Market) and 5.78 log10 CFU/g (Khilgaon Market), respectively. However, the lowest APC found in tomato and carrot samples of local markets were 4.90 log10 CFU/g (Malibagh Bazar) and 5.50 log10 CFU/g (Malibagh Market), respectively. Antibiotic sensitivity patterns of the isolates were determined and nearly all of them were resistant to commonly used antibiotics. The percentage of resistant bacteria to the total load was also high. Amoxicillin resistant bacteria counts were 3.4%, followed by ce[xime 2.15%, and ciprofloxacin count at 1.61%. There were 0.26% of the bacteria found to be multi drug resistant. Therefore, the fresh vegetables samples collected from local markets were heavily contaminated with resistant bacteria and are of special concern for human consumption. Plasmid pro[le, curing and transformation study results demonstrated that resistance to amoxicillin is plasmid mediated but for cefixime and ciprofloxacin were not. These study results demonstrated that plasmids are one of the important ways to spread resistance but chromosomal mutation by environmental selection might also responsible for resistance.

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