Incidence and antimicrobial susceptibility of Escherichia coli isolated from beef (meat muscle, liver and kidney) samples in Wa Abattoir, Ghana

Escherichia coli of beef origin has been responsible for a number of foodborne infections. This study determined the incidence of Escherichia coli and coliforms in beef (meat muscle, liver and kidney) samples produced in the Wa Abattoirs of Ghana. The study also sought to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility of Escherichia coli isolated from the beef samples. The isolation of Escherichia coli and coliform counts was done according to the USA-FDA Bacteriological Analytical Manual. Anti-microbial susceptibility test was performed using the disc diffusion method and the results interpreted using the CLSI guidelines. A total of 150 beef samples made up of 50 livers, 50 kidneys and 50 meat muscle were examined. The incidence of Escherichia coli was highest in liver (98.0%), followed by kidney (92.0%) and meat muscle (88.0%). Coliform count was also highest in liver (3.341 logcfu/cm(2)), followed by meat muscle (2.098 logcfu/cm(2)) and liver (2.096 log cfu/cm(2)). The Escherichia coli (n = 45) isolated from the beef samples were highly resistance to teicoplanin (97.78%). Susceptibility >= 80% was observed for amoxycillin/clavulanic, ceftriaxone, chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin, gentamicin and suphamethoxazole/trimethoprim. The multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) index ranged from 0.11 (resistant to one antibiotic) to 0.56 (resistant to five antibiotics). Multidrug resistance was observed in 26.66% of the isolates. This study revealed that beef samples in the Wa abattoir are contaminated by Escherichia coli and coliforms. The Escherichia coli isolates were susceptible to most of the antimicrobials examined.