Salmonella spp. and Staphylococcus aureus in school sandwiches

Food poisoning results from the ingestion of food contaminated with pathogenic microorganisms or their byproducts. This study aimed to assess the microbiological quality of sandwiches sold in schools in Maradi (Niger) and to determine the antibiotic resistance of the isolated strains of Salmonella spp. and Staphylococcus aureus. Conducted from April 6 to October 5, 2023, the study included 133 samples collected from 21 schools in 4 neighborhoods. Microbiological analyses using standard methods identified Salmonella in 11 samples (8.27 %) and Staphylococcus aureus in 13 (9.77 %). The S. aureus isolates showed 100 % resistance to several antibiotics, while 90.9 % of Salmonella spp. were resistant to azithromycin and 9.1 % to ceftriaxone. These results highlight vendors' failure to comply with hygiene measures and the presence of resistant bacteria, underscoring the importance of microbiological surveillance and health education in schools.