Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns of Foodborne Bacterial Isolates from HIV/AIDS Patients in Lusaka, Zambia

Antimicrobial resistance is a major global public health concern and a food safety issue resulting in potential treatment failure, loss of treatment options, and increased likelihood and severity of disease. In this cross-sectional study, a total of 54 stool samples were obtained from respondents who are HIV-positive attending UTH. Microbiological identification of the bacteria from stool samples was done through culturing, and antimicrobial resistance patterns were studied through antimicrobial susceptibility testing. A total of 77 bacteria were isolated, and 36 of these were foodborne pathogens. Most of the isolates (92%) were resistant to ampicillin, followed by 80% resistant to sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim. Foodborne bacteria such as _Staphylococcus aureus_ isolates were 100% resistant to azithromycin and 90.9% resistant to methicillin, while the _Salmonella paratyphi_ isolate was 100% resistant to ampicillin, sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim, and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid. MDR (multidrug resistance) was seen in 19.4% of the isolates and XDR (extended drug resistance) in 27.8% of the foodborne bacterial isolates. Moreover, MDR foodborne bacteria were significantly associated with inpatients (_p-value= _0.007). This study has revealed that MDR and XDR foodborne bacteria are at an alarming incidence in HIV/AIDS patients. Therefore, proper management of antimicrobial resistance and securing food safety should be timely issues to be focused on and resolved.