Antimicrobial Resistance Profiles of Bacteria Isolated from Households in Greater Letaba Municipality, South Africa

Environmental surfaces are key reservoirs for pathogen transmission, with the survival of bacteria on fomites influenced by factors such as temperature, humidity, and microbial interactions. This study aimed to determine microbial surface contamination and to determine antimicrobial resistance profile of bacteria isolated from the indoor surface where the presence of cockroaches was observed in households of Greater Letaba Municipality (GLM), South Africa. Swab samples were collected from kitchen countertops and food storage areas with visible cockroach activity. Bacteria were isolated and identified using standard microbiological methods, and antimicrobial sus-ceptibility testing (AST) was conducted with the Vitek® 2 system. Of the 120 samples collected, 82 (86%) showed bacterial growth, resulting in 190 isolates. Most (93%) were Gram-negative species, with 98% exhibiting multidrug resistance (MDR) to various antibiotics, including ampicillin, colistin, and cephalosporins. Among the Gram-positive species, 22% exhibited resistance to one or two antimicrobial agents tested, while 78% showed MDR. The study revealed a high prevalence of antibiotic resistance in both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria isolated from household surfaces. The spread of antibiotic-resistant pathogens via environmental surfaces presents a significant risk to human health, safety, and well-being.