Prevalence and antibiotic resistance profiles of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in beef products from retail outlets in Gaborone, Botswana

• Published in: Journal of food protection Vol. 68; no. 2; pp. 403 - 406
• Main Authors: Magwira, C.A, Gashe, B.A, Collison, E.K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Des Moines, IA International Association of Milk, Food and Environmental Sanitarians 01.02.2005
• Subjects: Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; antibiotic resistance; antibiotics; bacterial contamination; beef; Biological and medical sciences; Botswana; butcher shops; Cattle; Consumer Product Safety; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; Escherichia coli; Escherichia coli O157 - drug effects; Escherichia coli O157 - isolation & purification; Escherichia coli O157:H7; food contamination; Food industries; Food Microbiology; food pathogens; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Meat and meat product industries; meat products; Meat Products - microbiology; microbial detection; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; minced meat; multiple drug resistance; Prevalence; Seasons; serotypes; supermarkets; Botswana; Africa; Resistance; Antibiotic; Prevalence; Surveillance; Escherichia coli; Meat product; Bacteria; Beef; Profile; Enterobacteriaceae
• ISSN: 0362-028X; 1944-9097
• DOI: 10.4315/0362-028X-68.2.403

Four hundred meat samples (134 meat cubes, 133 minced meat, 133 fresh sausages) were collected from 15 supermarkets and butcheries in Gaborone, Botswana, between the summer months of October 2002 and March 2003. Samples were assayed for Escherichia coli O157 by selective enrichment in modified E. coli broth containing novobiocin, followed by immunomagnetic separation and plating onto sorbitol MacConkey agar supplemented with potassium tellurite. The isolates were biochemically and serologically confirmed by API 20E and O157 antisera, respectively. The prevalence rates for E. coli O157 were 5.22% in meat cube samples, 3.76% in minced meat samples, and 2.26% in fresh sausages. The isolates showed single, double, and triple antibiotic resistance. Fifty-three percent of them were resistant to cephalothin. Resistance was also recorded for sulphatriad (33%), colistin sulphate (26%), streptomycin (0.7%), and tetracycline (26%). It is recommended that the cause for antibiotic resistance be investigated using a larger number of samples from cattle, especially from ranching areas of the country.