Antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of lab isolated from wakalim, a traditional Ethiopian fermented sausage

Abstract

Wakalim is a traditional Ethiopian spiced fermented beef sausage. In this study, 168 lactic acid bacteria strains isolated during the fermentation of wakalim were evaluated for their antimicrobial resistance patterns. All of the isolates tested were sensitive to Amp, Pen, Ery, Cep, Aml, and Tet. Among the Lactobacillus isolates, the most frequent resistance was noted for methicillin (96%), followed by resistance to streptomycin (85%), vancomycin (72%), kanamycin (47%), and gentamycin (38%). The most frequent resistance among Pediococcus isolates was observed for vancomycin and streptomycin (96% each), followed by resistance to kanamycin (84%), gentamicin (55%), and methicillin (30%). A total of 13 multiple drug resistance (MDR) patterns were detected. About 42% of the isolates showed MDR to four drugs, 29% to five drugs, and 2% to six drugs. The most frequent MDR pattern was Van/Str/ Kan/Gen/Met and was seen in 42% of the isolates. This pattern was seen in Lactobacillus, Pediococcus, and Weissella isolates, but was the most frequent pattern in Pediococcus isolates (41%). Our Lactobacillus isolates showed 10 different MDR patterns, with Van/Str/Gen/Met (21%) and Van/Str/Met (19%) being the most frequent patterns. Our isolates were not reservoirs of transferable resistance genes for tetracycline, erythromycin, ampicillin, penicillin G, cephalothin, and amoxicillin.