Antimicrobial susceptibilities of salmonellae isolated from food handlers and cattle in Lagos, Nigeria

Purpose: Food handlers play an important role in the transmission of typhoid bacilli and other Salmonella spp. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance patterns of Salmonella spp. from food handlers and cattle and compare the patterns with specimens from patients. Methods: A total of 206 stool samples from apparently healthy food handlers from bukkas (cafeteria) and 100 stool samples from cattle were collected in Lagos Metropolis between June 2006 and June 2007. The prevalence and susceptibility patterns of the S. typhi isolates from the samples and those obtained from the stool samples of 27 patients were determined. Results: Salmonella species isolated from the stool samples collected from food handlers were S. typhi, S. enteritidis, S. choleraesuis, S. paratyphi A and S. arizona with prevalence of 6.8%, 5.3%, 2.9%, 1.5% and 0.5%, respectively. S. enteritidis and S. typhimurium were isolated from 100 faecal cattle samples with prevalence of 12% and 3%, respectively. Nearly all the isolates (including the clinical isolates) were sensitive to nitrofurantoin, nalidixic acid, and ofloxacin, while all were sensitive to ciprofloxacin. Conclusion: Food handlers working in bukkas (cafeteria) and cattle are possible reservoirs of Salmonalle species in Lagos. Other than fluoroquinolones, Salmonalle species exhibit high levels of resistance to most antibiotics.