Bacterial communities associated with the surfaces of the fresh fruits sold around Dhaka Medical College and Hospital and their anti-microbial profiles

Fresh fruits are popular sources of healthy diets with low energy density. Since they are consumed raw, it may act as a source of foodborne disease and a reservoir for antibiotic-resistant organisms. This study aimed to determine microbial prevalence among the fruits sold around hospital along with antimicrobial profiles. Thirty-five different types of fruits were bought from around Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) and analyzed for the presence of bacteria. Antibiotic sensitivity, detection of ESBL, AmpC β-lactamase, and MBL positive strains were done by standard methods followed by PCR to detect ESBL, AmpC β-lactamase and MBL genes. Twenty-seven different organisms were isolated: Klebsiella spp. (33.33%), Citrobacter spp. (29.64%), Enterobacter spp. (22.22%), Escherichia coli (11.11%) and Staphylococcus aureus (3.70%). Among them, 48.15% were resistant to different antibiotics. Only one organism (Citrobacter spp.) produced ESBL phenotypically (7.69%). Two (15.38%) were positive for AmpC β-lactamase and one of these (Enterobacter spp.) possessed SHV and CTX-M15A genes by PCR. Imipenem resistance was 84.62% of the antibiotic-resistant organisms and 10 (90.91%) were phenotypically MBL positive. By PCR, one Enterobacter spp. had MBL encoding gene OXA-48.  Fresh fruits, contaminated with pathogens, might be a source of resistant organisms' transmission and contribute to public health issues.   Key words: Antibiogram, bacteria, Bangladesh, fresh fruits, fruit venders around hospital.