BACTERIAL CONTAMINATION AND ANTIBIOGRAM OF NEW UNUSED DISPOSABLE PLASTIC FOOD PACKS

Bacterial contamination and antibiogram of new unused disposable plastic food packs was conducted to assess the microbial quality and antibiotic susceptibility profile of bacterial isolates obtained from unused plastic food packaging materials. Standard microbiological techniques, including cultural, microscopic, and biochemical analyses, were employed to identify the bacterial isolates, while antibiotic susceptibility testing was carried out using the disc diffusion method. The total bacterial count of the samples ranged from 23 cfu/cm² to 48 cfu/cm², with sample E exhibiting the highest bacterial load (48 cfu/cm²). Cultural and biochemical characterization revealed the presence of Bacillus sp., Staphylococcus sp., Pseudomonas sp., Acinetobacter sp., and Klebsiella sp. The percentage occurrence showed Bacillus sp. as the most prevalent (23.8%), followed by Pseudomonas sp. (22.1%), Staphylococcus sp. (20.0%), Klebsiella sp. (17.6%), and Acinetobacter sp. (16.5%). Antibiogram analysis revealed that most isolates were highly sensitive to ciprofloxacin, gentamycin, and streptomycin, while variable resistance was observed against lower-generation antibiotics such as amoxil and cefuroxime. Ciprofloxacin was identified as the most effective antibiotic, exhibiting broad-spectrum activity against all isolates. The results indicate that even unused plastic food packs may harbor significant bacterial contaminants, possibly introduced during production, handling, or storage. These bacteria, many of which are opportunistic pathogens, can pose health risks when such packs are used to store ready-to-eat foods. The findings underscore the need for improved hygiene and sterilization practices during manufacturing, as well as routine microbial monitoring to ensure compliance with WHO microbial safety standards (