article · Journal of Advances in Microbiology
An investigation into reused dish-rinsing water in informal street food establishments in Daloa, Côte d'Ivoire, reveals widespread microbial contamination and antimicrobial resistance. Analysis of thirty water samples across ten restaurants showed that forty percent failed basic pH standards, while the vast majority exceeded accepted microbiological safety limits. Harmful pathogens were common across the sites, with Staphylococcus aureus detected in eighty percent of samples, Escherichia coli in seventy percent, and Salmonella species in ten percent. Klebsiella oxytoca emerged as the most prevalent bacterial isolate, demonstrating complete resistance to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid as well as resistance to fluoroquinolones and chloramphenicol. Genetic testing confirmed the presence of beta-lactam and quinolone resistance genes, notably bla_TEM and qnrA. Reusing rinsing water creates a significant reservoir for multidrug-resistant bacteria, highlighting an immediate requirement for improved washing hygiene, frequent water replacement, and routine microbiological monitoring.
Informal food vendors serve essential meals to urban communities, but unhygienic dishwashing practices can turn simple eating utensils into vectors for severe disease. The presence of multidrug-resistant pathogens in reused water makes potential foodborne infections harder to treat with standard antibiotics, presenting an immediate threat to community health that requires systematic hygiene interventions and water quality oversight.
The findings point to an early-stage need for affordable sanitation solutions tailored for informal food service environments. Potential applications include low-cost water treatment kits, portable sanitising additives, rapid bacterial contamination test strips, or practical greywater recycling units. Primary users would be street food vendors, local municipal health authorities, and sanitation officers, although the abstract itself does not outline a specific commercial development pathway or market-ready product.
AI-generated from the published abstract. Always read the original work before citing.
Background: In Daloa (Côte d’Ivoire), the reuse of dish-rinsing water in informal (street food) restaurants is a common practice that may constitute a major source of microbial contamination and the dissemination of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Aims: This study assessed the physicochemical and microbiological quality of such water, identified the bacterial species present, and analysed their resistance profiles. Place and Duration of Study: The research was conducted at the Laboratory of Agrovalorisation, Department of Biochemistry-Microbiology, Jean LOROUGNON GUEDE University of Daloa, from February 2025 to March 2025. Methodology: Thirty samples collected from ten restaurants in the Tazibouo district were analysed for pH, mesophilic aerobic germs (MAG), total coliforms, Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., and Staphylococcus aureus. Isolates were identified using biochemical methods and tested for antibiotic susceptibility according to EUCAST (2025) guidelines. Resistance genes for β-lactams (bla_TEM, bla_SHV, bla_CTX-M), quinolones (qnrA, qnrB, qnrS), colistin (mcr-1) were detected by PCR. Results: The results showed that 40% of the samples had a pH outside the recommended range and that most exceeded microbiological standards; Salmonella spp. was present in 10%, E. coli in 70%, and S. aureus in 80% of the samples. Klebsiella oxytoca was the predominant species (66.66%) and displayed complete resistance to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid and, in 29% of cases, resistance to fluoroquinolones and chloramphenicol. The most frequently detected resistance genes were bla_TEM and qnrA, whereas mcr-1 was not found. Conclusion: These findings indicate that reused dish-rinsing water in these establishments is a potential reservoir of multidrug-resistant bacteria and poses a significant public health risk, underscoring the urgent need to improve hygiene practices, increase the frequency of water replacement, and implement regular monitoring.
This page summarises published work. The authoritative version sits with the publisher.
DOI: 10.9734/jamb/2026/v26i91171
Is something wrong with this record? Report it or request removal.
Discussion
Have you built on this work, tried to replicate it, or seen it applied in practice? Share what you know. Verified researchers and MARATTO™ domain experts can open a discussion, and any member can reply. Contributions are reviewed before they appear.
No discussion yet. Open the first thread.
New to MARATTO™? Create a free account.
