Abstract:
Worldwide, the increase in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a public health
concern. Food-borne associated antibiotic-resistant pathogens can contami
nate raw meat during slaughter, transportation, and at sale points. A cross-
sectional study was conducted from March 2021 to December 2021 to deter
mine antimicrobial susceptibility patterns and characterize the molecular basis
of resistance in E. coli, Klebsiella spp., and L. monocytogenes contaminating
raw meat collected from retail outlets in Nairobi. Isolation and identification of
the strains were done using the standard culture methods and PCR. Antimi
crobial susceptibilities of the recovered strains were determined using disk
diffusion while the presence of antibiotic resistance gene determinants; blaTEM,
blaCTX-M, blaOXA, sul, and qnrS was done using PCR. Of 270 samples collected,
163 (60%) Escherichia coli, 19 (7%) Klebsiella spp., and L. monocytogenes 3
(1.1%) were recovered. Among Escherichia coli, high antibiotic resistance was
found to Erythromycin 161 (98%) and ampicillin 88 (54%) while low resis
tance was found against imipenem 2 (1%). Similarly, high resistance was
found among Klebsiella spp. to Erythromycin 19 (100%) and ampicillin 12
(63%) low resistance to ceftazidime 1 (5%), cefotaxime 1 (5%), aztreonam 1
(5%), and chloramphenicol 1 (5%). One isolate among the three Listeria mo
nocytogenes strains isolated was resistant to Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole.
No resistance was exhibited to gentamycin by all Klebsiella spp. The preva
lence of multidrug-resistant (resistance to three or more classes of antibiotics)
isolates was 95/182 (52.2%). The common resistance pattern observed was
Erythromycin, ampicillin, tetracycline, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole
with a prevalence of 19 (20%). ESBL was confirmed in isolates that harbored:
blaTEM (65%), blaCTX-M (44%), blaOXA (33%) while sul and qnrS were detected
DOI: 10.4236/aim.2022.1211042 Nov. 7, 2022
603
Advances in Microbiology
A. Chepkemei et al.
in 46.7% and 13.6% respectively. Circulation of antibiotic-resistant and MDR
isolates found in this study could play a role in the dissemination of AMR
among food-borne bacteria and suggest potential food safety and public
health risk. Therefore, enhanced surveillance for antibiotic-resistant organ
isms in raw meat for early detection of emerging resistant bacteria species in
the food chain is recommended.
Keywords
Raw Meat, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Multidrug Resistance,
Extended Spectrum β-Lactamase (ESBL)
