Abstract:

Background: Infections caused by Extended Spectrum Beta Lactamase-producing Escherichia coli (ESBL-PE) are prevalent at BMC and the trend of isolating them together with multi-resistant Salmonella spp is increasing. Food chain has been reported to play a role in colonization, which is a potential source of subsequent infections. However, the magnitude to meat contamination by ESBL-PE and Salmonella spp is not known in our setting.

Methodology: A cross sectional study conducted from May to July, 2018 in Mwanza city Tanzania. Four meat samples, each weighing 250g was collected from each meat shop. Packed in a sterile bag and labeled study number. Was kept in the cool box and transported to CUHAS Multipurpose laboratory for processing. Modification of the protocol by Phanet al., (2005) was used, briefly 25g of meat was placed aseptically into a sterile bag, ground and transferred into 225mls of peptone water broth and incubated aerobically 37’C for 24 hours. On 2nd day, 1ml was transferred in 9mls of Selenite F broth (for isolation of Salmonella spp) and 10µl was sub cultured on MCA with and without cefotaxime. Isolates was identified as per standard operating procedures. ESBL-CHROM-ID agar (mast diagnostic, UK) was used to distinguish and presumably confirm ESBL isolates. Antimicrobial succesibility test was performed as per 2015 CLSI guidelines. Data was analyzed using STATA version 13 software according study objectives.

Results: Among 420 investigated, out of these 322 (76.6%) were contaminated with E. coli and 33 (7.8%) were contaminated with Salmonella spp. Only 27 samples were contaminated with both E. coli and Salmonella spp. Only 3 retail shops had all four samples being positive for ESBL producing E. coli a total of 90 (27.9%, 95% CI: 23.0-32.8) ESBL-producing E. coli were detected out of 322 E. coli isolates from meat samples. None of Salmonella spp. isolates was found to produce ESB. Resistant of ≥50% in (TET) tetracycline, (SXT), (CAZ) ceftazidime observed.

Conclusion: A significant proportion of retail meat samples in Mwanza city are contaminated with EBL-PE. There is a need to develop control strategies that focus on simple hygiene practices while handling meat products. There is a need to integrate the food chain component in surveying antimicrobial resistance burden using “One Health Approach” as it has demonstrated to be a potential cross-transmission source in Mwanza City Tanzania.