High Carrying Rate of Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase (ESBL) Producing Enterobacteriaceae by Slaughterhouse Workers in Lomé, Togo in 2019

Introduction: Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL) represent a real public health concern because of their spread. The role of agri-food chains in transmitting of digestive ESBL-producing bacterial strains in the community, was demonstrated but little work was done in our settings (Togo, west Africa). The aim of this study was to estimate the rate of digestive carrying ESBL producing enterobacteriacae in slaughterhouse workers in Lomé, Togo.

Material and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study carried out in three slaughterhouses in Lomé. Fresh stools of 60 slaughterhouse workers and socio-demographic data were collected during the period of September to October 2019 after obtaining the consent of each participant.

The bacterial strains of interest were isolated on the selective medium Purple Bromocresol + Ceftazidime at 6µg/l. UriselectÒ and API 20E media were used for identification. Antibiotic susceptibility test was performed in Mueller-Hinton agar plate diffusion method (Kirby Bauer technic) and according to CASFM-EUCAST recommendations.

Results: The digestive carriage rate of ESBL producing enterobacteriacae among professionals of three slaughterhouses of Lomé was 80% (n=48/60). Escherichia coli was the main bacteria 78.2% (n = 43/55) followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae 16.4% (n = 9/55) and Enterobacter cloacae 5.4% (n = 3/55). The antibiotic profile of ESBL producing enterobacteriacae showed resistance to Amoxycillin + Clavulanic Acid (26%), Ticarcillin + Clavulanic Acid (86%), Piperacillin + Tazobactam (14%), Cefoxitin (7%) Ciprofloxacin (63%), Levofloxacin (49%), Nalidixic Acid (42%), Chloramphenicol (33%), Gentamicin (21%), Sulfamethoxazole-Trimetoprim (93%). These bacteria were 100% sensitive to Imipenem, Ertapenem, Amikacin and Fosfomycin.

Conclusion: This study revealed a very high carriage rate of ESBL producing Enterobacteriacae among Slaughterhouse Workers in Lomé. It confirmed the major potential role of the agri-food chains in the spread of ESBL producing bacteria in the Community.