ANTIBIOTIC SUSCEPTIBILITYTESTING OF ISOLATED COLIFORMS FROM PANEER MARKETED IN KATHMANDU

Abstract

Paneer is a valuable dairy product due to its high nutritional value, distinctive texture, and flavor makes it a good meat substitute. Poor hygiene during preparation, storage and handling of foods including dairy products can lead to microbial contamination in developing nations like Nepal. The aim of this study was to screen microbial quality of paneer and to determine the antibiotic susceptibility testing of total coliforms and thermotolerant coliforms. Here, 30 paneer samples were randomly collected from dairy shops and other different locations in Kathmandu and samples were processed at Department of Microbiology, Amrit Campus during April to June 2022. Serial dilution of sample was performed and by using pour plate method, total coliform count and thermotolerant coliform count was determined. All isolated organisms were identified by various biochemical tests and antibiotic susceptibility pattern of coliforms was carried out by Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. In this study, 16.6% of paneer samples were within requirements of DFTQC and FSSAI with maximum count of 4.5×105 cfu/gm and thermotolerant bacteria with maximum count of 9.6×104 cfu/gm. Coliforms isolated from paneer were Escherichia coli (46.9%), Klebsiella spp. (37.5%) and Citrobacter spp. (15.6%). Thermotolerant coliforms were Escherichia coli (58.5%), Klebsiella oxytoca (11.8%), Klebsiella spp. (17.6%) and Citrobacter spp. (11.8%). All isolates of total coliforms (n=32) and thermotolerant coliforms (n=17) showed 100% sensitivity towards Gentamycin and Cotrimoxazole. Resistance towards Ampicillin (40%), Cefoxitin (30%) and Azithromycin (30%) were shown by thermotolerant E. coli. Resistance towards Cefoxitin (66.7%), Azithromycin (33.3%) were shown by thermotolerant Klebsiella spp. The highest resistance for E. coli was found in Azithromycin (40%) and Ampicillin (40%) in total coliforms and thermotolerant coliforms. However, no multiple- antibiotic resistant was found in isolates of total and thermotolerant coliforms. The majority of the paneer samples in this investigation did not meet the microbiological requirements. Sitapaila provided the greatest number of microbiologically acceptable samples, whereas Naikap provided the least number. Thus, it is necessary to monitor and control the quality of paneer sold in Kathmandu.