ABSTRACT

The antibiogram of organisms of public health importance from vegetable wash water was investigated. Twenty five (25) samples of vegetable wash water from five markets in Umuahia were analyzed. Four bacteria genera: Staphylococcus aureus, E.coli, Shigella spp, salmonella spp were isolated. Staphylococcus areus gave the highest percentage occurrence of 90% while Salmonella spp gave the least percentage occurrence of 30%. The Kirby Bauer disk diffusion method was used for the antibiotic susceptibility test. Staphylococcus aureus was highly susceptible to Ciprofloxacin, Rifampicin and Amoxil while others exhibited least susceptibility. Among the Gram negative organisms E.coli, Shigella spp and salmonella spp  were found to be highly susceptible to Ofloxacin, Gentamycin, Augumetin while other species of E.coli, Shigella and Salmonella gave the least susceptibility to Nalidixic acid, Penicillin, Amoxil, Streptomycin, Ciprofloxacin, Levofloxacin and Erythromycin.  The Multiple Antibiotic Resistance Index of the organisms ranged between 0.2-0.7. The result of this study showed that vegetable can be an avenue for transferring antibiotic resistant genes in community setting. Hence it is necessary to monitor and understand the critical points in the control of antibiotic resistance among the developing countries. 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title page i

Certification ii

Declaration iii

Dedication iv

Acknowledgements v

Table of contents vi

List of Tables vii

Abstract viii

CHAPTER ONE

1.1 INTRODUCTION 1

1.2 Aims and Objectives 4

CHAPTER TWO

2.1 LITERATURE REVIEW 5

2.2 Food-borne illness outbreaks linked to fresh produce 7

2.3 Sources of contamination 10

2.4 Microorganisms Associated with Food Items 13

2.41 Bacillus species 13

2.4.2 Streptococcus species 14

2.4.3 Vibrio cholerae 15

2.4.4 Staphylococcus species 15

2.4.5 Salmonella species 16

2.4.6 Enterobacter species 17

2.4.7 Pseudomonas species 17

2.4.8 Campylobacter species 18

2.4.9 Shigella species 18

2.4.10 Escherichia coli 19

2.4.11 Aspergillus species 20

2.4.12 Fusarium species 20

2.5 Post-harvest Wash and Limitations 20

2.6 Wastewater Characteristics 22

2.7 Wastewater treatment and recycling 23

CHAPTER THREE

MATERIALS AND METHODS 27

3.1 Study Area and Sample Collection 27

3.2 Sterilization of Materials 27

3.3 Preparation of culture media 27

3.4 Isolation and enumeration of isolate 28

3.5 Purification of isolate and preservation or identification of isolates 28

3.6 Motility 29

3.7 Biochemical Tests 29

3.8 Determination of Antimicrobial Susceptibility Pattern 31

CHAPTER FOUR

4.1  RESULTS 32

CHAPTER FIVE

5.1 DISCUSSION 38

5.2 Conclusion 39

5.3 Recommendations 39

References 40

Appendix