Isolation and Identification of Pathogenic Bacteria from Street Food at Bhimdatt Municipality, Kanchanpur, Nepal
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.3126/jist.v30i2.84985Keywords:
Antimicrobial resistance, Bacteria, Food-borne pathogen, Street foodAbstract
Street food consumption has increased substantially in developing countries, including Nepal, and is often associated with poor hygiene practices and foodborne illnesses. This study identified the microbial load, pathogenic bacteria, and antimicrobial resistance patterns among street foods in Bhimdatt Municipality, Kanchanpur, Nepal. A cross-sectional study was conducted from January to April 2024, during which 50 samples (panipuri, chowmein, momo, samosa, and chutney) were collected from 10 major vending locations using convenience sampling. Total plate count (TPC) was performed using the pour plate method, and bacterial identification was based on colony morphology and standard biochemical tests according to Bergey’s Manual of Determinative Bacteriology. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion method following CLSI guidelines. Out of 50 samples, 22 (44%) were contaminated with bacteria. Four bacterial species were isolated: Staphylococcus aureus (36%), Escherichia coli (32%), Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi (18%), and Klebsiella pneumoniae (14%). The mean TPC ranged from 2.70 × 10⁷ to 7.28 × 10⁷ CFU/g, which exceeded recommended international microbiological safety limits. All isolates were resistant to amoxicillin, whereas amikacin and ciprofloxacin demonstrated the highest effectiveness. Multidrug resistance was detected in 75% of S. aureus, 86% of E. coli, 75% of S. enterica serovar Typhi, and 67% of K. pneumoniae isolates. There was no association between food type and pathogen occurrence (p > 0.05), supported by Fisher–Freeman–Halton exact test with Monte Carlo (p=0.556). The presence of high microbial loads and multidrug-resistant bacteria in street foods indicates serious public health and food safety concerns. These findings highlights the urgent need for routine microbiological surveillance, improved hygiene practices among street vendors, and strengthened regulatory and public health interventions
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