a b s t r a c tThe aim of this study was to evaluate the level of knowledge, attitudes and practices in food safety and the presence of coagulase-positive staphylococci species on the hands of food handlers in the municipal schools of Camaçari, Bahia in northeast Brazil. This study was conducted in two stages. In the first stage, 166 food handlers were interviewed via a questionnaire to assess their food safety knowledge, attitudes and practices. In the second phase, the presence of coagulase-positive staphylococci species on the hands of food handlers was determined. The results indicated that most of the handlers had been trained (92.2%), but the level of knowledge was insufficient; the average proficiency score was <70% accuracy. Attitude received the highest scores, and no handler had a score below 50.0%. Logistic regression analysis showed that the level of education and specific subject expertise of the handlers were associated with general knowledge about food safety. Food handler overall had positive attitudes on food safety with all scores above 50.0%. Despite a high prevalence of training and positive attitudes about food safety, 53.3% of the hand samples showed the presence of coagulase-positive staphylococci. No associations were found between the knowledge attitudes and practices of food handlers and the presence of the pathogen on their hands. The results showed inadequate sanitary practices of food handlers, highlighting the need to review the current model for training food handlers and to improve accessibility to sinks and supplies to ensure proper hygiene.

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Objetivo Avaliar a segurança da produção de alimentos em escolas atendidas pelo Programa Nacional de Alimentação Escolar, em Salvador (BA). Métodos Realizou-se um estudo transversal, com aplicação de formulários elaborados com base na Resolução de Diretoria Colegiada nº 216/04 da Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária/Ministério da Saúde, em amostra estratificada formada por 235 escolas atendidas pelo Programa Nacional de Alimentação Escolar, contemplando a rede estadual e municipal de ensino da cidade de Salvador. No formulário, os itens avaliados apresentavam pontuação diferenciada em função do grau de risco associado à segurança dos alimentos. De acordo com a pontuação obtida, as escolas foram classificadas em cinco grupos em relação à condição higiênico-sanitária: crítico; insatis-fatório; regular; bom e excelente. Resultados Na avaliação global de adequação, 57,0% (134) das unidades apresentaram condições insatisfatórias, 42,6% (100) regulares e 0,4% (1) boa. Os itens que mais contribuíram para o baixo desempenho estão relacionados aos seguintes blocos: edificação, instalações, equipamentos, móveis e utensílios; higienização; abastecimento de água; manipuladores de alimentos; preparo dos alimentos e exposição do alimento preparado para consumo. Em condição intermediária de atendimento ficaram os blocos controle integrado de vetores e pragas urbanas, manejo de resíduos e matérias-primas, ingredientes e embalagens. Conclusão Verificou-se elevado nível de não conformidade quanto ao atendimento dos requisitos sanitários vigentes, o que evidencia falhas na segurança da produção da alimentação escolar. Os resultados indicam a necessidade de adoção de medidas corretivas com vistas a reduzir riscos à saúde das crianças assistidas e aumentar a eficiência do Programa Nacional de Alimentação Escolar, no município de Salvador (BA).

Critical control points (CCPs) associated with Minas Frescal cheese (a Brazilian soft white cheese, eaten fresh) processing in two dairy factories were determined using flow diagrams and microbiological tests for detection of Listeria monocytogenes and other species of Listeria. A total of 218 samples were collected along the production line and environment. The CCPs identified were reception of raw milk, pasteurization, coagulation and storage. Thirteen samples were positive for Listeria; 9 samples were Listeria innocua, 2 were Listeria grayi and 2 were L. monocytogenes. In factory A, Listeria was found in 50% of raw milk samples, 33.3% of curd samples, 16.7% of pasteurized milk samples, 16.7% of cheese samples and 25% of rubber pipes used to transport the whey. The microorganism was not obtained from environmental samples in this plant. In factory B, Listeria was found in one sample of raw milk (16.7%) and in three samples of environment (17.6%) and L. monocytogenes was obtained from raw milk (16.7%) and the floor of the cheese refrigeration room (14.3%). Two serotypes, 4b and 1/2a, were observed among the strains of L. monocytogenes isolated, both which are frequently involved in outbreaks of food-borne listeriosis and sporadic cases of the disease all over the world.

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This study investigated the presence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in raw meat and fish and foods prepared from them for patient consumption in public hospitals in Salvador, Bahia, in northeastern Brazil. A total of 114 samples of raw meat and fish (chicken, n = 30; beef, n = 30; pork, n = 24; and fish, n = 30) and 63 samples of prepared foods (made with chicken, n = 15; beef, n = 15; pork, n = 15; and fish, n = 18) were collected from the kitchens of 10 different hospitals. Of the 114 investigated raw meat and fish samples, 28.1% were positive for MRSA, which comprised 23.3% beef, 23.3% chicken, 37.5% pork, and 30% fish samples. Of the prepared foods, 9.5% were positive for MRSA, which comprised 5.6% chicken products, 6.7% pork products, and 22.2% fish products. MRSA contamination was not detected in prepared beef dishes. A statistical analysis showed no association between the presence of MRSA and the type of raw food (P > 0.05). The high prevalence of MRSA among the raw foods tested and the presence of the microorganism in prepared foods emphasizes the necessity of enforcing hygienic practices within hospital kitchens.

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The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of bacteriophage P100 on strains of Listeria monocytogenes in artificially inoculated soft cheeses. A mix of L. monocytogenes 1/2a and Scott A was inoculated in Minas Frescal and Coalho cheeses (approximately 105 cfu/g) with the bacteriophage added thereafter (8.3 × 107 PFU/g). Samples were analyzed immediately, and then stored at 10 °C for seven days. At time zero, 30 min post-infection, the bacteriophage P100 reduced L. monocytogenes counts by 2.3 log units in Minas Frescal cheese and by 2.1 log units in Coalho cheese, compared to controls without bacteriophage. However, in samples stored under refrigeration for seven days, the bacteriophage P100 was only weakly antilisterial, with the lowest decimal reduction (DR) for the cheeses: 1.0 log unit for Minas Frescal and 0.8 log units for Coalho cheese. The treatment produced a statistically significant decrease in the counts of viable cells (p < 0.05) and in all assays performed, we observed an increase of approximately one log cycle in the number of viable cells of L. monocytogenes in the samples under refrigeration for seven days. Moreover, a smaller effect of phages was observed. These results, along with other published data, indicate that the effectiveness of the phage treatment depends on the initial concentration of L. monocytogenes, and that a high concentration of phages per unit area is required to ensure sustained inactivation of target pathogens on food surfaces.