Molecular Characterization and Antibiotic Resistance of Foodborne Pathogens in Street-Vended Ready-to-Eat Meat Sold in South Africa

Abstract

ABSTRACT The consumption of food contaminated with microbial populations remains a key route of foodborne infection in developing countries and creates a serious public health burden. This study aimed at identifying foodborne pathogens and their antibiotic resistance profiles in ready-to-eat meat sold in public eateries in the Johannesburg area. A total of 115 samples were examined for the incidence of bacteria pathogens and their antibiotic resistance profiles against commonly used antibiotics (ampicillin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, erythromycin, ciprofloxacin, streptomycin, and sulphonamides) using the molecular and the disc diffusion methods. Fifteen bacteria species were detected in the samples. Staphylococcus aureus had the highest prevalence (25%), and 53.33% of the isolates exhibited multidrug resistance to the antibiotics tested. Among the isolated bacteria, S. aureus was resistant to at least six antimicrobial agents, whereas 100% of S. aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, and Planomicrobium glaciei were resistant to streptomycin, ciprofloxacin, and chloramphenicol, respectively. This study revealed that a wide diversity of bacteria species contaminate meat sold on the street, which indicates that consumers of ready-to-eat meat sold in public eateries are at risk of food poisoning. Hence, strict intervention strategies should be put in place by government agencies to reduce the menace of food poisoning in the country. HIGHLIGHTS