Isolation, Molecular Characterization and Antimicrobial Profile of Food Borne Bacterial Pathogens from Money and Cellphones of Food Handlers from Selected Food Outlets in Nairobi

Abstract

Currency is used for every type of commerce while mobile phone is used for communication and plays an important role in the life of a food handler in busness. However, the combination of its widespread use and constant exchange of money make them a likely agent for disease transmission but this data in food handles is limited The aim of this study was to isolate, characterize and determine the antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of foodborne bacterial pathogens isolated from money and cellphones of food handlers in Nairobi, Kenya. A total of 384 food handlers were recruited in the study and from each one bank note, coin and cell phone swab was sampled and cultured in 10% Sheep blood agar plate, Xylose Lysine Desoxycholate agar and MacConkey agar (Oxoid, Basingstoke, UK).Biochemical tests were used for identification of the isolates and antimicrobial susceptibility testing was done on the identified bacterial foodborne pathogens. Characterization of toxigenic strains of E.coli and determination of the presence of mecA gene in Staphylococci aureus for antimicrobial resistance was determined by polymerase chain reaction. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 19.0 (CDC, Atlanta, USA). Descriptive analysis was used to obtain simple frequencies and proportions of foodborne pathogens and antimicrobial patterns. Out of the 384 participants, 56.3% (216/384) were males and 46.5% (179/384) were females. 18.8% of the money tested had foodborne bacterial pathogen which included Staphylococci aureus (18.4%) and E.coli (0.4%) the cell phones had Staphylococci aureus (14%), and E.coli (7%). Six strains of E.coli in this study had a combination of genes coding for the following pothotypes; EPEC, EHEC and EIEC. E.coli showed highest antimicrobial resistance with ampicillin (16%) and sulphamethoxazole (15%). 12 % MRSA were resistant to oxacillin, with the highest resistance of Staphylococci aureus was seen in cefuroxime and erythromycin (21%). The study established that the foodborne bacterial pathogens were present on money handled by food handlers (18.8%) which were E.coli (0.4%) and (18.4%) Staphylococci aureus.The cell phones (21.3% )were also contaminated with foodborne bacterial pathogens which included Staphylococci aureus (14.3. %) and E.coli (7%).The E.coli characterized had virulent genes coding for ETEC,EHEC,EAEC,EPEC and EIEC and Staphylococci aureus were positive for mec A gene. E.coli isolates also showed antimicrobial resistant to ampicillin(16%) and sulphamethoxazole(15%) and (12.5%) isolates of MRSA which were all resistant to oxacillin, the highest antimicrobial resistance was observed in cefuroxime and erythromycin (21%) for the Staphylococci aureus .This findings will inform the government policy makers and food establishments on the need to formulate and enforce guidelines on the handling of money and phones when processing food.The general public should also be sensitized on the risks involved in handling food after touching money and mobile phones.