ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE IN E.COLI ISOLATED FROM LOCALLY CULTIVATED MINT IN HEBRON, PALESTINE

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dc.contributor.authorAli Alkoumi
dc.contributor.authorOmama Shabaneh
dc.contributor.authorAshraf Abdeen
dc.date.accessioned2026-09-14T08:12:15Z
dc.date.available2026-09-14T08:12:15Z
dc.date.issued2026-05-12
dc.description.abstractBackground: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major global public health concern. Fresh leafy vegetables may act as reservoirs of resistant bacteria because contamination can occur during cultivation, irrigation, harvesting, transport, or sale. *Escherichia coli* is widely used as an indicator of fecal contamination and has frequently been isolated from fresh produce worldwide. In Palestine, information on antibiotic-resistant bacteria in vegetables is limited, particularly in mint, which is commonly consumed fresh. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate whether locally cultivated mint sold in grocery markets in Hebron, Palestine, is contaminated with antibiotic-resistant *E. coli*. The objectives were to isolate and confirm *E. coli* from mint samples and to evaluate the antibiotic resistance patterns of confirmed isolates. Methods: A total of 14 locally cultivated mint samples were collected from grocery stores in Hebron between January and March 2024. Presumptive *E. coli* isolates were obtained through enrichment and selective culturing. Phenotypic identification was performed using biochemical tests, and confirmation was carried out by colony PCR targeting the *uidA* gene. Confirmed isolates were tested for antibiotic resistance using the Kirby–Bauer disc diffusion method in accordance with CLSI guidelines. Results: Among 28 presumptive isolates, 13 were confirmed as *E. coli*. Resistance was observed primarily to tetracycline (53.9%) and chloramphenicol (46.2%). Heteroresistance to levofloxacin was detected in 15.4% of isolates, while 61.5% showed intermediate resistance to cefuroxime. No multidrug-resistant isolates were identified. These findings indicate the presence of antibiotic-resistant *E. coli* in mint sold in Hebron grocery markets.
dc.identifier.urihttps://dspace.alquds.edu/handle/20.500.12213/10780
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherDeanship of Scientific Research - Al-Quds University
dc.titleANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE IN E.COLI ISOLATED FROM LOCALLY CULTIVATED MINT IN HEBRON, PALESTINE
dc.typeArticle
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