Increasing Threat of ESBL in Raw Vegetables

Extended spectrum beta lactamase (ESBL) is an emerging threat for community worldwide since 1963. It spreads through many reservoirs like Hospitals, Sewage, animal/poultry farms to natural water and Food. Agricultural use of antibiotics as growth promoters, use of manure as fertilizer (already contaminated with antibiotic resistant bacteria), and irrigation of vegetable crops with sewage water increases the chances of ESBL presence in raw vegetables. To determine whether ESBL producing gram negatives are present in raw vegetables and in sewage in Surat, we have collected 81 different types of vegetable samples, sewage samples and crop irrigation water samples from different area of Surat and checked for antibiotic resistance using 3rd generation Cephalosporins (Cefotaxime, Ceftazidime). Total of 242 antibiotic resistant isolates found, among them 56.19 % from vegetables, 23.14 % from sewage and 20.66 % from crop irrigation water. Their bacterial species were then analysed for presence of ESBL.20.68 % vegetable samples and 77 % sewage samples were found contaminated with ESBL. It shows that raw vegetables irrigated with sewage water may have higher chances to get ESBL. It suggests that raw vegetables might be a source of resistance gene spread among Human.