JOOTRH study finds 60% of market fish in Kisumu contaminated with antibiotic-resistant E. coli

KENYA—A recent study in Kisumu, Kenya, has revealed that 60% of market-ready fish are contaminated with Escherichia coli (E. coli), a bacterium increasingly resistant to critical antibiotics.

Researchers at Jaramogi Oginga Oginga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) tested 256 fish samples and found 153 positive for E. coli.

While E. coli naturally lives harmlessly in the gut, pathogenic strains cause serious infections such as urinary tract infections, bloodstream infections (sepsis), and meningitis.

When these strains develop resistance to treatment, infections become difficult to cure, often resulting in higher mortality rates and increased healthcare costs.

Lead researcher Silas Onyango Awour, a clinical microbiologist at JOOTRH, attributed the contamination mainly to environmental pollution and poor hygiene practices along the fish supply chain.

He noted that discarded waste, specifically diapers (“Pampers”) found along roads, eventually reaches Lake Victoria, contributing significantly to bacterial contamination in the lake’s fish.

The findings underline the close relationship between aquaculture and the rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) within communities.

The study highlights that improper use of antibiotics in fish farming, combined with environmental pollution, leads to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria capable of transmitting zoonotic diseases through food consumption.

The research team also included Eric O. Omwenga, Zipporah Gichana, Grace Ndeda, Jamie M. Reedy, and Theekshana Fernando.

The results, presented during a recent World Fisheries Day event, sparked immediate action from county officials.

Kisumu County Deputy Governor Dr. Mathews Owili urged for a follow-up investigation at landing beaches to identify the contamination’s ultimate source.

Dr. Awour supported this recommendation and expressed commitment to pursuing further research.

The study calls for stronger government measures to better regulate and monitor antibiotic use in aquaculture.

In response, JOOTRH’s Anti-Microbial Resistance Committee developed a charter that incorporates the One Health approach, recognizing the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health in their 2025 strategy.

Their plan emphasizes cross-sector collaboration involving the County Government, Beach Management Units (BMUs), Fisheries Department, and public health teams.

It also focuses on enhancing surveillance by implementing systematic sampling of lake water and fish for continuous microbiological testing.

During the World Fisheries Day event, the committee also educated fisherfolk on the risks of AMR, promoting safe fish handling and hygiene.

This effort demonstrates that combating antimicrobial resistance extends beyond healthcare settings, involving communities, ecosystems, agriculture, and food supply chains to protect public health.

The study’s findings spotlight a pressing environmental and public health challenge that demands coordinated action across multiple sectors.