SHV and CTX-M Extended Spectrum Beta Lactamases (ESBL) Producing Bacteria Isolated from Street Foods in and around Chennai, India

Street food vending in India has flourished into a prominent trade especially in the urban and semi urban regions of the country. It is also a major reservoir for the spread of food borne infections caused by microbial pathogens including multidrug resistant organisms. Management of infections caused by multidrug resistant bacteria is difficult. Extended spectrum beta lactamase (ESBL) production contribute to antimicrobial resistance that may result in therapeutic failure. The objective of this study was to analyze for the prevalence of ESBL producing food borne bacteria isolated from street foods sold in and around Chennai. A total of 78 street foods including vegetable samosa (18), chicken samosa (10), panipuri masala (11), panipuri water (31), bhelpuri (8) were tested for the presence of ESBL producing bacteria. The bacteria that were identified included Escherichia coli (55.1%), Staphylococcus sp. (25.6%), Klebsiella sp. (17.9%), Pseudomonas sp. (15.3%) and Enterobacter sp. (11.5%). Multidrug resistance was exhibited by the isolates and ESBL production was found in 16 out of 78 (20.5%) isolates with 9 E. coli, 2 Klebsiella sp., and 5 Pseudomonas sp. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) revealed CTX-M-1(68.75%) and SHV genotypes (31.25%) among the isolates. The 16SrRNA analysis of F10 isolate, confirmed the presence of Pseudomonas sp. in street foods.