Antibiotic Residues And Multidrug-Resistant Gram-Negative Bacteria Contaminating Raw Meat Sold In Accra, Ghana

Abstract

Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is considered by the World Health Organization as one of the greatest threats to health and economies in recent times. Multidrug resistance limits treatment options and has serious implications for human and animal health. Efforts to combat AMR should be based on the One Health approach and involve human health, animal health, and the environment. In Ghana, previous studies on AMR have given little attention to animal source food, which is a major route of transmission of antibiotic-resistant zoonotic pathogens. Aim: The aim of the study was to investigate the occurrence of antibiotic residues and multidrug-resistant bacteria in meat sold in Accra. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study in which 270 meat samples were collected. The presence of antibiotic residues in the meat samples was detected using microbiological inhibition assays. Standard microbiological methods were employed in cultural isolation and identification of bacterial pathogens present in the meat samples. Bacteria isolated from the samples were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing (using the Kirby-Bauer method) against the following antimicrobials: amikacin (30 μg), ampicillin (10 μg), amoxicillinclavulanate (20/10 μg), cefuroxime (30 μg), ceftriaxone (30 μg), ceftazidime (30 μg), cefepime (30 μg), ciprofloxacin (5 μg), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (1.25/23.75 μg), ertapenem (10 μg), meropenem (10 μg), imipenem (10 μg), tigecycline (15 μg), and gentamicin (10 μg). Results: The prevalence of antibiotic residues among the meat samples was 7.7% [beef (0.0%), goat meat (0.0%), and chicken (23.3%, n = 21)]. Furthermore, thirty-two (32) different types of bacterial agents, totaling 588, were isolated from the samples. The predominant ones were Escherichia coli [262; Beef = 30.5%, n = 80; Goat meat = 30.5%, n = 80; Chicken = 38.9%, n = 102], Aeromonas hydrophila [117; Beef = 35.9%, n = 42; Goat meat = 53.0%, n = 62; Chicken = 11.1%, n = 13], Vibrio cholerae [20; Beef = 50.0%, n = 10; Goat meat = 50.0%, n = 10; Chicken = 0.0%, n = 0], Aeromonas veronii [19; Beef = 63.1%, n = 12; Goat meat = 36.8%, n = 7; Chicken = 0.0%, n = 0], and Klebsiella pneumoniae [18; Beef = 22.2%, n = 4; Goat meat = 16.7%, n = 3; Chicken = 61.1%, n = 11]. The prevalence of MDR among the contaminating bacteria was 14.9% (n = 83), and the distribution was beef (3.8%, n = 21), goat meat = (5.0%, n = 28), and chicken (6.1%, n = 34). Also, the MDR distribution among the predominant bacteria was E. coli (Overall = 18.7%, n = 49; Beef = 5.7%, n = 15; Goat meat = 5.7%, n = 15; Chicken = 7.3%, n = 19), A. hydrophila (Overall = 11.1%, n =13; Beef = 2.3%, n = 3; Goat meat = 7.7%, n = 9; Chicken = 0.9%, n = 1), V. cholerae and A. veronii (0.0% each), and K. pneumoniae (Overall = 5.6%, n = 1; Beef = 0.0%, n = 0; Goat meat = 0.0%, n = 0; Chicken = 5.6%, n = 1). Moreover, 2.0% (n = 11) of the contaminating bacteria were ESBL producers, all of which occurred in 11 of the chicken samples, and their distribution was: E. coli (1.3%, n = 7), K. pneumoniae, Pantoea spp., E. cloacae, and Serratia plymuthica (0.2% each, n = 1). Conclusion: The prevalence of antibiotic residues in the meat samples was low, and the occurrence was restricted to chicken. The major bacterial contaminants were E. coli, A. hydrophila, V. cholerae, A. veronii, and K. pneumoniae. The prevalence of multidrug resistance was moderate, while that of ESBL producers was low.