Archives

Page No. : 75-77

ABSTRACT

The present study was undertaken to investigate the frequency of microbial contamination of raw meat and contact surfaces, and circulation of antibiotic resistant strains in and around Palampur city, Himachal Pradesh. A total of 80 samples that encompassed 20 each of raw meat, swabs from cutting knife, swabs from chopping wooden block and hands of butchers were collected and subjected to isolation of bacterial contaminants. Ten species of bacteria of public health importance were isolated and identified viz. Escherichia coli (19.6%), Bacillus cereus (16.3%), Streptococcus faecalis (14.7%), Staphylococcus aureus (13.1%), Aeromonas sanarelli (8.1%), Micrococcus spp. (8.1%), Proteus vulgaris (6.5%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (4.9%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (4.9%) and Aeromonas eucrinophilla (3.2%). Antimicrobial susceptibility revealed resistance against a range of antibiotics. The study showed circulation of antimicrobial resistant bacteria in raw meat, meat cutting equipments and hands of butchers; and could play important role in the dissemination of antimicrobial resistance among the food-borne bacteria.

Keywords: Antibiotic resistance, bacteriological analysis, raw meat.