Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamase Producing Escherichia Coli Isolated From Ready to Eat Salad from Fast Food Restaurant within Umudike- Augustine Ebere

ABSTRACT This work Extended Spectrum Betalactamase (ESBL) producing Escherichia coli. A total number of 40 samples were used. Isolation and identification of the E.coli isolates was done using standard microbiological protocol. The Kirby Bauer disk diffusion technique was used for antibiotics susceptibility testing. Commercially impregnated disc consisting of twelve (12) antibiotics: Gentamycin (lOpg), Nalidixic acid (30pg), Ofloxacin (5pg), Cefotaxime (25pg), Amoxicillin Clavulanate (30pg), Imipenem (lOpg), Ceftriaxone (45pg), Cefuroxime (30pg), Cefexime (5pg) Levofloxacin (5pg), Amplicox (1 Ogg) and Nitrofurantoin (300pg) were used. The isolates exhibited different resistivity pattern with most of the isolates having a Multiple Antibiotic Resistance (MAR) of more than 0.2. The result ofthis study showed that E.coli had a prevalence of 25%. In this study the antimicrobial susceptibility testing showed that the isolates were highly susceptible to Gentamycin and Ofloxacin (80%) and while being highly resistant to Imipenem. The highest intermediate susceptibility was recorded by Cefuroxime (60%), 5(50%) of the isolates were suspected to be ESBL producers, however, none 0(0%) was confirmed. The presence ofthe E.coli in the vegetable salad with such resistance pattern as in found in this study is of great public health significance since antibiotic resistance can be spread through the food chain to human. ESBL production was phenotypically determined using the Clinical Laboratory Standard Institute (CLSI, 2021) breakpoint and confirmed using double disc synergy test.