dc.identifier.citation | Kiprotich, A., Wangalwa, R., Atwebembeire, J., & Kagoro-Rugunda, G. (2022). Microbial contamination and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of bacterial isolates from sorghum and millet derived local beverage (Obushera) consumed in Mbarara City, Uganda. | en_US |
dc.description.abstract | The high consumption and unconventional manner in which locally derived sorghum and millet
beverages (Obushera) are processed in Uganda prompted the need to establish microbial safety of the
beverages. Microbial contamination and its variation with storage time and temperature, antibiotic susceptibility of pathogenic bacterial isolates, and nutritional content of Obushera (n = 96) were
determined. Handling and hygiene practices of processors and vendors of Obushera (n = 28) were also
determined. Among the four categories of Obushera found in Mbarara city, Ekitiribita had the highest total
viable counts (TVC) with a median of 4.62 log CFU/ml, followed by Obwenkiga and Obutiire with a
median of 4.31 and 4.25 log CFU/ml, respectively. Microbial contaminants isolated included: Providencia
spp.7(7.3%), Coagulase-positive Staphylococci 23(24%), Pseudomonas spp.3(3.1%), Enterobacter
cloacae 12 (12.5%), Enterobacter aerogens 3 (3.1%), Proteus vulgaris 15(15.6%), Klebsiella spp.
13(13.5%), Streptococcus spp. 7(7.3%), and Escherichia coli 11 (11.5%). Saccharomyces cerevisiae
(65.6%), Candida spp. (28.1%), Mucor spp. and Aspergillus niger accounted for 52.1% contamination of
all samples. The above microbial contaminants persisted with storage except Providencia spp., Proteus
vulgaris, Mucor spp. and Aspergillus niger. Microbial and nutritional analyses showed a positive
significant correlation between microbial counts and amino acid, carbohydrates, reducing sugar
concentration and pH in Obushera (p-value < 0.05). All isolated strains of bacteria were resistant to more
than one family of antibiotics used. The review of hygiene and handling practices revealed that they did
not conform to good manufacturing practices neither did they meet the East African Standards of < 2
log10 CFU/ml TVC. Overall, this study revealed that Obushera consumed in Mbarara City, Uganda, is a
high-risk beverage due to the high rate of microbial contamination and antibiotic resistance. | en_US |