The occurrence and distribution of bacteria in raw and unprocessed coconut milk at Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan / Nooraliza Alias

Bacterial contamination of raw (unprocessed) coconut milk can originate from different sources such as air, milking equipment and handling activities of retailers. The difference batch of time purchased of raw (unprocessed) coconut milk may influence the microbial quantity in milk. Driven by those factors, the main intention of this study was to determine the prevalence of Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhi and the biosafety of raw and unprocessed coconut milk at wet market from Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan by total plate count method, most probable number (MPN) and antibiotic susceptibility method. A total of five isolates of E. coli and one isolate of S. typhi were identified from 10 sampling areas. Biochemical examination of Gram staining, catalase, indole, citrate, MR-VP and carbohydrate fermentation tests were performed for the identification of E. coli and S. typhi. All of the isolates showed a multiple resistance towards all seven antibiotics tested. Some showed a high resistance to different antibiotics including Penicillin G (P), Vancomycin (Va) and Trimethoprim (Te). However, both E. coli and S. typhi was highly susceptible towards Streptomycin (S). Overall antibiotic resistance pattern of all isolates were resisitant to four resistant patterns with multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) index ranging from 0.43 to 0.86 respectively. Based on result, these antibiotics were outrated from higher risk sources of contamination.