Aims: Bacteria on chicken egg surfaces can be potential sources of food borne diseases. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of E. coli, Salmonella and enterococci on the surface of conventional broiler eggs, “Kampung” chicken eggs and carrying trays and to determine the antimicrobial resistant profile of these isolates. Methodology and results: Conventional broiler eggs, “Kampung” chicken eggs and carrying trays were sampled randomly from nine wet markets in Selangor, Malaysia. The surface of the eggs and carrying trays were swabbed and E. coli, Salmonella and enterococci were isolated using selective agars. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) was performed on the isolates against different antimicrobials via disk diffusion test. A large proportion of E. coli isolates (>50% of isolates from conventional broiler eggs and “Kampung” chicken eggs) was resistant to chloramphenicol and tetracycline whereas enterococci (>60% of isolates from conventional broiler eggs and “Kampung” chicken eggs) isolates were resistant to tetracycline and erythromycin. Salmonella isolates were found to be susceptible to all of the antimicrobials tested except for tetracycline. There was also presence of isolates showing multiple resistances in this study. E. coli isolates (8.8%) from the surface of “Kampung” chicken eggs were resistant against 10 different antimicrobials whereas 17.8% of the enterococci isolates from the surface of “Kampung” chicken eggs were resistant to 11 different antimicrobials. Conclusion, significance and impact of study: The presence of multiple-antimicrobial resistant bacteria especially on the surface of “Kampung” chicken eggs that are ready to be sold to consumers is a serious concern. However, further study has to be conducted to determine the ultimate source of the bacterial contamination before specific food safety measures can be introduced.
Drug Resistance, Microbial ; Salmonella

Introduction:: Heart failure (HF) is associated with poor health-related quality of life (HRQoL). In Taiwan, the medical resources and health-care insurance program for HF patients differs from those available in the West. This study sought to test whether there is any change in knowledge, self-care behaviour and HRQoL during 1-year of follow-up under the Taiwan national health-care insurance programme and education by cardiologists at an outpatient clinic. Materials and Methods:: 141 HF patients with New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II or III were enrolled at the outpatient clinic three months after stabilisation. Questionnaires on knowledge, self-care, and HRQoL were administered at baseline and after one year. At the end of the study, 36 (26%) patients were lost to follow-up leaving 105 patients in the study. Results:: Overall, there was improvement in knowledge, self-care, and HRQoL (p<0.0001) of patients with HF (Class II and III combined) after one year of follow up. Subgroup analysis showed that the improvement of HRQoL was significant only in class III patients. Compared to class II patients at baseline, class III patients had poorer knowledge (p=0.03) and HRQoL (p<0.0001), however exhibited significant improvements in knowledge (p=0.02) and HRQoL (p=0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that functional class (p<0.001) and education level (p=0.03) were independent parameters correlated with the improvement in HRQoL. Compared to class II patients, class III patients had better HRQoL at 1-year and this was significantly associated with better self-care (p<0.0001). Conclusion: In patients with stable HF followed under the Taiwan national health-care insurance by cardiologists at an outpatient clinic, HRQoL improved modestly but more significantly in the NYHA class III subgroup. In the future, it should be tested whether the interventions specific for self-care behaviour in class III patients may yield substantial improvement in HRQoL.