ABSTRACT

This study evaluated the incidence and antibiotics resistance to Staphylococcus spp. isolated from Grilled Meat (Suya) samples sold around Umuahia, Abia State. Total of Twenty Five (25) grilled meat (suya) samples were collected from different vendors at various locations (Gate Six, Ahieke, Umuariga, Nndoru and Orieugba) within Umuahia metropolis and processed in the laboratory using pour plate technique. From the result a total of fifteen (14) Staphylococcus strains were isolated and identified using morphological characteristics, pigmentation on media, microscopy, biochemical and sugar fermentation methods. This reveals the major bacterial isolate to be 5'laphyiococcus aureus. Amongst the five major areas investigated for the incidence and antibiotics resistance to Staphylococcus spp., isolated from Grilled Meat (Suya) samples however within Umuahia metropolis, Gate Six Area had the highest bacteria at 3.3xlo5cfu/g while the least was recorded in Ahieke Area (l.9x105cfu/g). These values placed the Grilled Meat (Suya) samples examined at an acceptable limit according to the Public Health Laboratory Services guidelines for bacteriological quality of ready-to-eat food sampled at point of sale. It vas revealed in this study that among the various locations investigated for the incidence of Staphylococcus aureus in grilled meat (Suya) samples however, Umuariaga Area showed high incidence rate of Staphylococcus aureus at 6(24.0%) followed by Gate Six Area at 3(12.0%) while the least was recorded in Orieugba at 1(4.0%). In this study ten antimicrobial agents were tested against Staphylococcus aureus from the different samples which revealed that Slap hylococcus aureus showed high level of susceptibility to Amoxil AML (20mcg), Erythrornycin E (30mcg) and Levofloxacin LEV (20mcg) in grilled meat samples isolated from Umuariaga Area, Orieugba Area and Ndioru Area respectively. In case of resistant to antibiotics tested in this study, all Staphylococcal strains isolated from all the samples from the various locations showed high level resistance against almost all antibiotics used in this study especially Meth i ci 11 in.