ABSTRACT

Foods and drinks are substances ingested by all living organisms for the continuance of life. However, foods consumed by humans and animals serve as favourable media for rapid growth of microorganisms because of the abundant organic matter, moisture and suitable pH contained and because of the fact that the microorganisms are equally living organisms. Hence this study was carried out to evaluate the presence of extended spectrum beta lactamase producing enterobacteriaceae from locally sold zobo and kunu drinks in Benin City.

Ten samples of locally sold zobo and kunu drinks were brought from different vendors in New Benin and Uselu market. The samples were taken to the laboratory for isolation and identification of Beta Lactamase producing Enterobacteriaceae.The isolateswere screened for resistance to selected antibiotics by discdiffusion test. The ESBL status was confirmed by double disc diffusion test (DDDT)comprising CAZ/CAZC, CTX/CTXC and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC)by agar dilution method.

The results revealed that enterobacteriaceae count of kunu and zobo samples cultured on nutrient agar ranged from 2.20±0.38 to 3.60±0.68 (kunu) and 1.50±0.31 to 6.10±1.05 (zobo). While culture on MacConkey agar ranged from 2.70±0.53 to 4.60±0.85 (kunu) and 1.60±0.40 to 4.60±0.85 (zobo) respectively. Proximate analysis of zobo and kunu drinks revealed that the moisture content of both samples ranged from 68.5% - 86.5%, ash content ranged from 3.2% - 6.5%, crude fibre content ranged from 1.1% - 8.5%, crude protein content ranged 8.6% - 9.7%, crude fat content was 5.6%, while Carbohydrate was 11.9%.The phenotypic screening of enterobacteriaceae isolates from kunu and zobo drinks based on CLSI breakpoint and DDST shows that Salmonella enterica, Enterobacter aerogenes, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella oxytoca and Proteus mirabilis were ESBL positive. While Pseudomonas aeruginosa was ESBL negative. The results also show that antibiotics such as Ciprofloxacin, Gentamycin and Cefuroxime were the most sensitive antibiotics to Enterobacteriaceae isolates. Following the results of the sensitivity pattern of the isolates to different antibiotics, the study therefore suggests that Gentamycin is the drug of choice in the treatment of health complications and infections caused by Enterobacteriaceae isolates acquired through the consumption of Kunu and zobo.