Risk-zone-stratified occurrence and antimicrobial resistance of E. coli and Salmonella spp. in ready-to-eat foods sold near elementary schools in urban Bangladesh

Risk-zone-stratified occurrence and antimicrobial resistance of E. coli and Salmonella spp. in ready-to-eat foods sold near elementary schools in urban Bangladesh. Download PDF Abstract Ready-to-eat foods sold near schools may contribute to children’s exposure to enteric bacteria, particularly in urban settings where informal food vending occurs near wastewater, animal markets, slaughter-related activities, and poorly managed solid waste. This study assessed the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance profiles of Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp.

In ready-to-eat foods sold near elementary schools in an urban area of Bangladesh, comparing school areas with different environmental risk conditions. A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2025 to February 2026 in urban area of Bangladesh. A total of 210 ready-to-eat food samples were collected from vendors within 200 m of 30 elementary schools, including 105 samples from high-risk school areas and 105 from low-risk areas.

High-risk schools were located within 500 m of predefined potential contamination sources, while low-risk schools were at least 1.5 km away. Were isolated using culture-based methods and confirmed by polymerase chain reaction. Antimicrobial susceptibility was assessed using the Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion method.

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