Abstract:
Food borne diseases related to unhygienic food handling practices remain a major
public health problem across the globe. The problem is severe in developing countries
due to limitations in securing optimal hygienic food handling practices. Data shows that
an estimated 70% of cases of diarrheal diseases are associated with the consumption of
foods contaminated with pathogenic microorganisms.Among these microorganisms
Salmonella and Shigella are the major ones. Thus, this study was designed to
investigate the prevalence of Salmonella and Shigella in Out-patients in Jimma
University Specialized Hospital. A cross-sectional study was conducted from January
2014 to March 2014. A total of 176 stool specimens of both adult and pediatric outpatients were collected, over night enrichment with selenite F broth, cultured in to XLD
agar media. After 24hr incubation the media were examined for the presence of
Salmonella and Shigella colonies. Then the isolates were confirmed by biochemical test.
The drug resistance patterns of the isolates were evaluated using galleries of nine
commonly used antibiotics. The growth potential of Salmonella and Shigella isolates in
selected traditional foods was assessed following standard methods. In the current study,
19(10.8%) Salmonella and 2(1.1%) Shigellas were isolated. The prevalence of
Salmonella and Shigella are higher in children aged less than 10 years and youth aged
between 20-24.In the current drug susceptibility test ,Salmonella spp showed resistance
to ampicillin (100%) followed by tetracycline (47.4%) and nalidixic acid (26.3%).On the
other hand Shigella spp were highly resistant (100%) to ampicillin and tetracycline.
Multidrug resistance towards four drugs was observed in both pathogens. In the
challenge study the pathogens grow to their infective dose in both gruel and firfir within
24hr (6.2 and 7.5log cfu/g).There was relatively greater fluctuation in pH of gruel within
24 hr, 6.2 at 0 time and ends below pH 5 whereas steady increment in pH of firfir was
observed and reach to5.28 at the end of 24hr. In conclusion, this study showed that,
these pathogens are still public health problems. Therefore, there needs to be frequent
monitory and evaluation system so as to plan intervention strategies for at risk
population in the area of problems regarding water sanitation and hygienic food
handling practice to minimize the burden posed by the diseases associated with
Salmonellosis and Shigellosis.
