Fish sellers' knowledge and practice of hygiene practices, antibiogram and detection of extended spectrum β-lactamase positive Escherichia coli in commercially available frozen fish in Awka metropolis

The detection of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli in frozen fish is an indication of a major public health challenge. The current study aims to identify ESBL-producing E. coli from frozen fishes. A total of 310 frozen fish samples purchased from the selected markets were screened for E. coli contamination using MacConkey agar. Confirmed isolates were screened phenotypically and molecularly for ESBL coding genes using standard protocols. A total of 100 (32.25%) were confirmed to be contaminated with E. coli. Varying resistance patterns were recorded: cefixime (100%), ceftazidime (100%), cefuroxime (99%), amoxicillin-clavulanate (100%), ofloxacin (96.0 %), ciprofloxacin (97.0 %) and gentamicin (99%). Moreover, Nitrofurantoin was the most active antibiotic. Also, 21 isolates expressed ESBL resistance. Of the 21 ESBL-positive isolates, 11 (52.4%) and 7 (33.3%) isolates had the TEM and SHV genes respectively. Many of the fish sellers (participants) claimed to have a good knowledge of some hygiene practices adopted in food handling such as washing hands (67.2%), use of gloves (56.7%), aprons (53.7%) and hair covers (73.1%). However, 38.8% of the participants do not know that fish stored at room temperature can cause disease when consumed. This study revealed that although the fish sellers had the basic education and knowledge of good hygiene, they seldom practiced it and thus are implicated as the primary source of contamination of the fish. Thus, strict compliance to appropriate policies should be routinely monitored to ensure proper implementation by the sellers.