Potential Spread of Pathogens by Consumption of Locally Produced Zobo and Soya Milk Drinks in Awka Metropolis, Nigeria

Aims: To determine the presence of resistant pathogens in locally produced drinks consumed in Akwa, Nigeria.
Study Design: To determine type of bacteria contaminants, level of contamination from and presence of resistant pathogens in the drinks.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in the department of Pharmaceutical microbiology and Biotechnology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, between May 2012 and June 2012.
Methodology: 10 each of locally prepared Zobo and Soya drinks were purchased in Akwa city and analysed using standard microbiological procedures.
Results: The microbial quality of the Zobo drinks is good but its safety is questionable as it contains indicator organisms like Escherichia coli (10%), Bacillus cereus (80%), Staphylococcus aureus (50%),Corynebacterium spp. (10%) and Clostridium spp. (10%). 40 % of the soya milk drink had an unsatisfactory microbial quality and 50 % are unsuitable for consumption as they contain E. coli and S. aureus. The antibiogram showed that most strains of the isolated organisms were susceptible to all the antibiotics with each organism having almost 100 % susceptibility. However, Clostridium spp. were completely resistant to amoxicillin and Corynebacterium spp. were completely resistant to Rifampicin. Also one strain of E. coli was multi-drug resistant.
Conclusion: The bacterial spectrum isolated from the locally prepared drinks is indicative of exogenous contamination which could cause food poisoning and lead to the spread of bacteria resistance.