Identification of Antibiotic Resistant Gram-Negative Bacteria in a Popular Street-Food Item (Chatpati) in Dhaka University Campus, Bangladesh

Presence of antibiotic resistant bacteria in street-foods has become a global health concern. In this study, we have thoroughly investigated the bacteriological quality of Chatpati (CHT) samples collected from 7 different locations of Dhaka University campus. Various selective and differential media, Gram staining and biochemical tests were carried out for isolation, enumeration and characterization of the isolates. The total bacterial count varied in samples from 7 locations ranging from 1.1x103 to 4.1x106 CFU/g. Klebsiella spp., Escherichia coli (E. coli), Enterobacter spp., Vibrio spp., Proteus spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Aeromonas spp. were identified in the collected CHT samples. Isolates were then subjected to antibiotic susceptibility test. For antibiogram profiling, Ampicillin, Colistin, Chloramphenicol, Ceftriaxone, Ciprofloxacin and Nitrofurantoin were employed in this study. Multiple antibiotic resistance index (MRI%) of the isolates were found to be ranged from 16.67 to 66.67%. Majority of the isolates showed resistance against Ampicillin and Nitrofurantoin. Therefore, it may be concluded that the consumption of CHT from this area may be severely detrimental to health due to the presence of antibiotic resistant bacteria