Detection of E. coli in cut fruits sold as street foods in areas of Dhaka city and assessing their antibiotic resistance

Abstract

This study investigated the prevalence and trend of antibiotic resistance of Escherichia coli in cucumber, hog plum, grapefruit, and guava fruits that are sold as cut fruits and fresh snacks as street foods in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Total 45 samples were obtained from different places in Dhaka city like, hospital areas in Shyamoli and congested areas around Gulshan lake. The results of the Xylose Lysine Deoxycholate (XLD) agar microbiological test and the PCR molecular confirmation showed that 48.89% (22/45) of the samples were contaminated with E. coli. Tests for antibiotic susceptibility using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion technique revealed high resistance to ampicillin (84.4%), clindamycin (86.7%), sulfamethoxazole (84.4%), and tetracycline (95.6%). Conversely, imipenem and meropenem were the most effective antibiotics, with sensitivity of 75.6% and 70%, respectively. The emergent development of multidrug resistance (approximately 90% among 22 isolates) among isolates bodes serious public health concerns regarding street foods. The findings call for the need for stricter hygiene practices, stricter food safety regulations, and continuous monitoring of antibiotic resistance among foodborne pathogens.