The Antibiotic Susceptibility Profile Of Microorganisms Of Public Health Importance Isolated From Food Handlers In Michael OkpAra University Of Agriculture Umudike :- Azu,Lucky

ABSTRACT

The antibiotic susceptibility profile of microorganisms of public health importance isolated from food handlers in MOUAU was investigated. A total of thirty (30) samples were analyzed. The study identified microorganisms belonging to the genera Staphylococcus, Escherichia, Shigella and Salmonella which were of public health importance as they were potent food pathogens. Escherichia coli (32.43%) was identified to be the most occurring microorganism isolated followed by Staphylococcus aureus (27.03%), Shigella spp. (24.32%) and lastly Salmonella spp. (16.22%). The antibiotics susceptibility pattern of the isolates was carried out using the Kirby Bauer Disk diffusion method and the organisms showed varying susceptibility patterns to the tested antibiotics. The antibiotics tested were Ofloxacin, Nalidixic acid, Gentamicin, Augmentin, Ciprofloxacin, Levofloxacin, Erythromycin, Streptomycin, Chloramphenicol, Oxacillin, Rifampicin, Amoxicillin and Norfloxacin. The Gram negative organisms showed the highest. susceptibility to Ofloxacin 7(26), Oxacillin 7(26), Amoxicillin 7(26) and Levofloxacin 7(26) and highest resistance to Augumentin 18(67), while the Gram positive organism showed the highest susceptibility to Levofloxacin and the highest resistance to Rifampicin and Amoxicilin. The results also showed that Salmonella spp. had the highest MAR index of 0.8 followed by Escherichia spp., Shigella spp., and Staphylococcus with MAR index of 0.7 respectively. The result of this study showed that most of the isolates were multidrug resistant, and this has a great public health significance.