Occurrence of non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli in two commercial swine farms in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

Fresh vegetables have been implicated in outbreaks of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in most parts of the world. Microbiological quality of vegetables used as recipes for salads is very crucial. Residents of the Amathole District in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa consume salads frequently, although the microbial quality of recipe vegetables is questionable. The present study investigated the prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility of E. coli O157:H7 isolated from selected vegetables sold within the Amathole District. One hundred eighty samples of the vegetables were analyzed. Strains of E. coli O157:H7 were isolated by enrichment culture and by immunomagnetic separation and identified by conventional and molecular techniques. In three settlements in this district, the mean counts of presumptive E. coli O157 for the vegetables ranged between 9 × 103 and 1.6 × 106 CFU/g for Fort Beaufort, 1.6 × 103 and 1.6 × 105 CFU/g for Mdantsane, and 1.3 × 103 and 4.1 × 104 CFU/g for Alice. Four (10.3%) of 39 vegetable samples were confirmed to carry E. coli O157:H7. Four representative E. coli O157:H7 isolates from these vegetables were susceptible to at least one of the eight antimicrobial agents tested against them. Even though the prevalence of E. coli O157:H7 was low and those isolated were susceptible to most of the antimicrobials, there remains a need for E. coli O157:H7 surveillance in vegetables used in salad recipes in urban and rural areas of South Africa.

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Antibiotic resistance profiles of Escherichia coli O26, O145, and O157:H7 isolated from swine in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Disease ◽

10.12980/apjtd.7.2017d7-9 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 7 (9) ◽

pp. 553-559 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Chinwe Juliana Iwu ◽

◽

Ishmael Festus Jaja ◽

Benson Chuks Iweriebor ◽

Larry Chikwelu Obi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

South Africa ◽

Antibiotic Resistance ◽

Eastern Cape Province ◽

Eastern Cape

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Influence of Knowledge Management Practices on Public Service Delivery by Municipalities

Mousaion ◽

10.25159/2663-659x/5869 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 37 (3) ◽

Author(s):

Charleen Musonza ◽

Ndakasharwa Muchaonyerwa

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Knowledge Management ◽

Service Delivery ◽

Public Service ◽

Qualitative Data ◽

Management Practices ◽

Integrated System ◽

Eastern Cape Province ◽

Eastern Cape ◽

Public Service Delivery

This study examines the influence of knowledge management (KM) practices on public service delivery by municipalities in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. The study sought to determine the factors that have triggered the implementation of KM practices; the effectiveness of KM practices towards public service delivery; and the extent to which KM practices have influenced public service delivery by municipalities in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were employed in this study. Quantitative data were collected through a survey questionnaire administered to a sample of 202 employees at the Raymond Mhlaba Municipality in the Eastern Cape. Qualitative data were collected through observations and interviews of 2 senior managers. The data collected gave a response rate of 72 per cent. The quantitative and qualitative data were analysed descriptively and presented verbatim respectively. The results indicated that the internal and external factors included in this study have contributed to the implementation of KM practices in the municipality. Furthermore, the effective use of KM practices has increased the organisational KM initiative, as well as the provision of services such as electricity, education, transport, and social services by the municipality. The study recommends the establishment of KM awareness and the establishment of an integrated system that will assist in effective knowledge sharing, retention and acquisition across municipalities in the Eastern Cape.

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