Antimicrobial-resistant pathogens in fruits and vegetables from retail and home gardens

Fruits and vegetables have been identified as vehicles for the transmission of pathogenic antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) microorganisms. This is of food safety concern, thus requiring continuous surveillance. This study aimed to profile AMR bacteria present in selected fruits and vegetables retailed in markets and from home gardens (HGs) in Oyo, Ogun, and Ekiti states, Nigeria. Watermelon, cucumber, tomato, and garden egg samples were collected and analyzed using standard microbiological procedures. The susceptibility of the isolates to eight antibiotics was determined. Multidrug-resistant isolates were screened for the presence of AMR genes by polymerase chain reaction. Fifty three bacteria were isolated and identified, belonging to the genera Bacillus, Corynebacterium, Listeria, Aeromonas, Enterobacter, Erwinia, Salmonella, Serratia, Shigella, and Vibrio. Thirty six (67.93%) isolates demonstrated phenotypic resistance to five of the eight antibiotics tested, being the most prevalent pattern observed. Bla _TEM and bla _CTX-M were detected in Salmonella enterica from retailed tomato, bla _TEM, bla _SHV, bla_{CTX -M}, and erm(B) were detected in Listeria monocytogenes from retailed watermelon, bla _SHV and bla _CTX-M were detected in Bacillus cereus from retailed tomato, while bla _TEM, bla _SHV, bla _CTX-M, and erm(F) were detected in Staphylococcus aureus isolated in garden egg from HG. The presence of multidrug-resistant pathogens in fruits and vegetables could pose a huge food safety and public health risk.