BACTERIA ASSOCIATED WITH THE LEAFY SALAD VEGETABLES OF OLD DHAKA CITY AND THEIR MULTIPLE ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE (MAR) INDEX

Abstract

The present work aimed to evaluate the bacteria associated with the most
popular leafy salad vegetables like Coriander, Mint, and Lettuce and their
antibiotic resistance pattern. Samples were collected from Rayshaheb Bazar,
Nazira Bazar, and Shyam Bazar during June-August 2019. The maximum
bacterial load was found in Coriander and the minimum bacterial load was in
Mint. A total of 149 colonies were isolated and 35 isolates were selected for
Culture and Sensitivity test against 15 common antibiotics like Amoxicillin (Ax),
Cefixime (CFM), Levofloxacin (Lev), Clarithromycin (CLR), Ceftriaxone (CRO),
Neomycin (N), Kanamycin (K), Ciprofloxacin (Cip), Erythromycin (E),
Doxycycline (Do), Vancomycin (VA), Cefuroxime (CXM), Chloramphenicol (C),
Rifampicin (RA), and Gentamycin (CN). Sixteen antibiotic resistant bacterial
isolates were selected for their identification and drug resistance pattern. Among
these 15 antibiotic resistant bacterial isolates, only 2 were Gram positive and
were identified as Enterococcus faecalis and the Gram negative bacteria belonged
to the genus Enterobacter (9), Serratia (3), Klebsiella (2).The drug resistance pattern
showed that most of the isolated bacteria were resistant against Amoxicillin and
susceptible to Chloramphenicol. The (multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) inedx
of the isolated bacteria ranged between 33.33% and 86.67% which is very
alarming.