Food Safety, Isolation and Antibiogram <i>Escherichia Coli</i> Along Beef Value Chain in Chelenko Town, Eastern Ethiopia

Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a common bacterium that can cause significant diseases in both humans and animals. The growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses serious risks to public health and food safety, contributing to treatment failures, increased morbidity, and rising healthcare costs. This study, conducted in Chelenko town, Ethiopia, aimed to isolate E. coli and assess its antimicrobial resistance along the beef value chain. The cross-sectional study, carried out from March to September 2022, sought to isolate and identify E. coli in beef samples and evaluate the hygienic practices in abattoirs and butcher shops within Chelenko town, East Hararghe zone, Oromia State, Ethiopia. A total of 384 samples were collected, including 78 beef meat samples, 36 feces samples, 36 water samples, and 234 swab samples from abattoir and butcher staff. Additionally, semi-structured interviews and site observations were used to assess hygienic practices. E. coli was detected in 33 (8.6%) of the total samples, with 16 (7.41%) positive samples originating from abattoirs and 17 (10.12%) from butcher shops. In abattoirs, E. coli was isolated from 2.8% of meat, 2.8% of hand swabs, 2.8% of knife swabs, 19.44% of feces, and 2.8% of water samples. In butcher shops, it was detected in 21.4% of meat, 2.4% of hand swabs, 2.4% of knife swabs, and 11.9% of feces samples. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing revealed high resistance levels, with 97% of isolates resistant to Enrofloxacin, 78.8% to Oxytetracycline and Streptomycin, 72.8% to Tetracycline, and 63.6% to Gentamycin. All E. coli isolates showed complete resistance to Amoxicillin. The study also highlighted poor hygiene practices in both abattoirs and butcher shops, emphasizing the urgent need for improved food safety training and infrastructure to ensure better hygiene in the beef supply chain.