ABSTRACT
Fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis) is a minimally-processed green leafy vegetable traditionally used for its antianaemic properties in the form of leaf juice without a heating or inactivation step before consumption. The aim of the study was to assess the presence of surface microbiota on T. occidentalis leaves and also to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility of isolated organisms. Bacterial contaminants on 50 samples of T. occidentalis leaves were isolated and characterized using standard biochemical methods and the antimicrobial susceptibility of isolated organisms was determined using the antibiotic disc diffusion assay. The results obtained show that the leaves of T. occidentalis is contaminated with organisms which included Enterobacter agglomerans (25.9%), Proteus vulgaris (24.9%), Klebsiella spp. (2.6%), and Serratia liquefaciens (2.1%). Other bacterial isolates recovered in order of frequency included: Staphylococcus spp. (33.7%), Bacillus spp. (8.3%), and Pseudomonas fluorescens (2.6%). Of the 193 bacterial isolates from the leaves of T. occidentalis samples tested for antimicrobial resistance, all (100%) were found to be resistant to ampicillin, cloxacillin, augmentin, erythromycin, and tetracycline while 96% of the isolates were resistant to cephalothin. Resistance to trimethoprim (93%) and gentamicin (83%) was also observed. Approximately, 22% of the isolates were resistant to ciprofloxacin; however, only 11 (5.8%) were resistant to ofloxacin. Thus, uncooked T. occidentalis is a potential source of highly-resistant epiphytic bacteria which could be opportunistic pathogens in consumers.
Subject(s)
Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology , Bacteria/drug effects , Cucurbita/microbiology , Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial/physiology , Plant Leaves/microbiology , Bacteria/isolation & purification , Enterobacter/drug effects , Enterobacter/isolation & purification , Klebsiella/drug effects , Klebsiella/isolation & purification , Microbial Sensitivity Tests/methods , Proteus vulgaris/drug effects , Proteus vulgaris/isolation & purification , Pseudomonas fluorescens/drug effects , Pseudomonas fluorescens/isolation & purification , Serratia liquefaciens/drug effects , Serratia liquefaciens/isolation & purification , Staphylococcus/drug effects , Staphylococcus/isolation & purificationABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Shigellosis is endemic throughout the world and Shigella spp. is among the most common pathogens responsible for bacterial diarrhoeal diseases. Death attributed to shigellosis is common in developing countries, where affected populations are immunologically compromised due to poor nutrition and background infections. AIM: To investigate the serogroup distribution of Shigella spp. recovered from clinically diagnosed cases of gastroenteritis and acute diarrhoea among children (0-5 years) in Ile-Ife, southwest Nigeria between September 2003 and September 2006. METHODS: The isolates were identified and characterized biochemically and serologically. RESULTS: Out of 102 Shigella isolates identified, 45 (44%) were S. flexneri, 26 (25%) were S. dysenteriae, 19 (19%) were S. boydii, 6 (6%) were S. sonnei and 6 (6%) were untypable strains. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that Shigella serogroups can be considered an important aetiological agent of acute diarrhoea and mortality among children in Ile-Ife, southwest Nigeria.
Subject(s)
Dysentery, Bacillary/epidemiology , Shigella/isolation & purification , Child, Preschool , Diarrhea/epidemiology , Diarrhea/microbiology , Dysentery, Bacillary/immunology , Dysentery, Bacillary/microbiology , Feces/microbiology , Female , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Male , Nigeria/epidemiology , Seasons , Seroepidemiologic Studies , Shigella/immunologyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: An increase in resistance against many different drugs among urinary tract infection (UTI) E coli isolates has been observed in the last 2 decades. This study determined the trends of antimicrobial resistance in E coli to commonly used antibiotics. METHODS: The study was conducted in Ile-Ife, southwest Nigeria. Patients with features suggestive of UTI were investigated for presence of significant bacteriuria. Urine isolates were identified. Antimicrobial susceptibility was evaluated in accordance with standard bacteriological methods. RESULTS: Of 442 urine specimens, 158 (35.8%) yielded significant growth, including 41 (25.6%) with E coli. Among the E coil isolates, antimicrobial susceptibility varied in prevalence by agent in descending order as follows: nitrofurantoin (80%), ofloxacin (24%), ciprofloxacin (15%), nalidixic acid (10%), cotrimoxazole (5%), and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (2%). No isolate was susceptible to amoxicillin, gentamicin, or tetracycline. All were also found to be resistant to at least 3 commonly used drugs. All 25 isolates tested for extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBC) production were found to be presumptive ESBCs producers. CONCLUSION: The results demonstrate the continued susceptibility of E coil to nitrofurantoin and their widespread and increasing resistance to amoxicillin, gentamicin, cotrimoxazole, ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, and tetracycline. Nitrofurantoin is a--and, in this locale, perhaps the only--rational drug for empiric treatment of uncomplicated UTI. There is a need for a comprehensive study of the involvement of ESBC-producing E coli in UTI in this environment.
