RT  - Journal Article
A1  - Abid, B M Tanjim
A1  - Ali, Md. Sarafat
T1  - High Microbial Load and Antibiotic-Resistant Pathogens in Street-Vended Sugarcane Juice: A Public Health Perspective
JF  - Journal of Biosciences and Public Health
JO  - J. Biosci. Public Health
YR  - 2026
VO  - 2
IS  - 4
SP  - 357-368
DO  - 10.5455/JBPH.2026.18
AB  - Background: Street-vended sugarcane juice is a widely consumed beverage in Bangladesh because of its refreshing taste and nutritional value. However, inadequate hygienic practices during extraction, handling, and vending may lead to bacterial contamination, increasing the risk of foodborne diseases and the dissemination of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. This study aimed to assess the bacterial contamination and antibiotic resistance patterns of bacteria isolated from street-vended sugarcane juice collected from selected locations in Gopalganj, Bangladesh. Methods: Four freshly extracted sugarcane juice samples were collected from distinct street vendors. Total viable bacterial counts were determined by the spread-plate method on plate-count agar. Isolates were purified and presumptively identified by colony morphology on selective media, Gram staining, and a panel of biochemical tests. Antimicrobial susceptibility was assessed by the Kirby–Bauer disc-diffusion method against ten commonly used antibiotics following CLSI guidelines. Results: Microbiological analysis revealed substantial bacterial contamination in all samples, with TVC values ranging from 3.2×106 to 4.2 ×106 CFU/mL. Staphylococcus spp. and Klebsiella spp. were detected in 75% of the samples, while Enterobacter spp. and Escherichia coli were identified in 50% of the samples. Antibiotic susceptibility testing showed that all bacteria were resistant to amoxicillin, ampicillin, erythromycin, and metronidazole. In contrast, high susceptibility to gentamicin and co-trimoxazole, and intermediate susceptibility patterns were observed for tetracycline, cefotaxime, doxycycline, and ciprofloxacin. Conclusion: The findings indicate that street-vended sugarcane juice in the study area is contaminated with potentially pathogenic bacteria exhibiting multidrug resistance, posing a significant public health concern. Strengthening food hygiene practices, ensuring vendor education, and implementing routine microbiological surveillance are essential to improve the microbiological safety of street-vended beverages and reduce the risk of foodborne infections.
K1  - Sugarcane juice, Poor hygienic, Foodborne diseases, Bacterial contamination, Antibiotic resistance, Health hazards
SN  - 3104-8749
PB  - 4Green Research Society
LA  - English
LK  - https://www.jbph.org/article/details/high-microbial-load-and-antibiotic-resistant-pathogens-in-street-vended-sugarcane-juice-a-public-health-perspective