Intestinal Parasitic and Bacterial Infection Among Food Handlers in a Metropolitan Tertiary Care Hospital

Abstract

Food borne diseases are a global public health burden. Food handlers play a major role in the transmission of foodborne diseases. This study was aimed at investigating the presence of intestinal parasites, S. typhi carrier rate and associated risk factors among food handlers in a metropolitan city. MATERIALS AND METHODSA cross-sectional survey was conducted among 200 food handlers working in different food service establishments. A pre-tested structured questionnaire was used to collect data on age, sex, years of service, previous deworming, status of typhoid immunization and hand washing practices. Stool samples were processed for intestinal parasites and S. typhi, as per the standard laboratory methods. RESULTSIn the present study, majority of the food handlers were males 185/200 (92.5%), 90/200 (45%) were aged between 30-50 years, and 72/200 (36%) had less than one year experience. Intestinal parasites were detected in 31/200 (15.5%) and S. typhi in 2 (1%). Of the 31 parasites, 11 (35.5%) were seen by direct saline technique and additional 20 (64.5%) by formol-ether concentration technique. The parasites found in descending order of frequency among the food handlers were: fertilized eggs of Ascaris lumbricoides 8.5% (17/200), cyst of Giardia (3.5%), cyst of Entamoeba histolytica 2% (4/200), eggs of Taenia spp. 1% (2/200) and eggs of Trichuris trichiura 0.5% (1/200). The association of years of work experience was inversely proportional to parasitic infection and directly proportional to history of previous deworming, both of which were statistically significant. CONCLUSIONInexperience and lack of awareness about hygiene in food handlers play a major role in the transmission of food-borne infections. Training on food safety and periodic focused medical check-up can help to control the spread of infection in the community. Laboratory investigation should include formol ether concentration technique to enhance diagnosis.

Enteropathogenic Bacterial and Intestinal Parasitic Infections among Asymptomatic Food Handlers in Rangsit University Canteens, Central Thailand

“…were found in two samples (2.5%), which is consistent with other studies that found no enterobacterial infection from stool cultures among food handlers in Kanchanaburi province of Thailand [22], in a tertiary care hospital of India [25], or the Dead Sea area of Jordan [16]. Enterobacteria in stool cultures have been reported from other areas: Shigella boydii was found 0.9% in northern Iran and 1.3% in the Omdurman area of Sudan [23,24], Samonella typhi was found in 1% of samples collected in a tertiary care hospital of Mumbai and 1.3% in the Omdurman area of Sudan [15,24], and Salmonella was isolated from 3.5% of samples in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia [21].…”

“…In separate studies, in Ethiopia, 14.8% [8], 41.1%, and 44.1% using direct mount and concentration technique of food handlers were infected; [9,10], in Iran, 3.7% (wet mount method), 9% (wet mount, concentration technique, trichrome staining), 10.4% (wet mount, concentration technique; and 34.9% (wet mount, concentration technique, Ziehl-Neelsen and trichrome staining) of handlers infected [11][12][13][14]. Infection rates using direct mount and concentration technique were 15.5% in Mumbai [15] 3.7% in Jordan [16]. Using Lutz, modified Ritchie, and Ziehl-Neelsen techniques, it was 38.2% in Brazil [17].…”

“…Enteropathogenic bacteria such as Shigella boydii was reported 0.9% of food handlers in Sari, Mazandaran province of Iran [23]. Mumbai, no Shigella, but Salmonella typhi isolated in 1% (2/200) of food handlers in a metropolitan tertiary care hospital [15]. Omdurman area of Sudan, one out of 259 food handlers infected with Shigella boydii and three with Salmonella typhi [24].…”

Factors Affecting Bacteria Contamination Among Food Handlers at a Public Hospital in South Sumatra, Indonesia

“…Food handlers who work in the food service sector with poor personal hygiene are the potential source of pathogenic organism infection (Acikel et al, 2008;Mukhopadhyay et al, 2016;Anjum et al, 2017;Gemeda et al, 2018). The food contamination occurs during food chain process including preparation, production, processing, and the food distribution (Permenkes RI, 2011; Anuradha and Dandekar, 2014; Mukhopadhyay et al, 2016 handlers depends on their health status, personal hygiene, knowledge, and the hygiene practice (Esparar et al, 2010;Dahiru et al, 2016). Foodborne disease is defined as illness resulting from the consumption of contaminated food; food can be contaminated with microbial pathogens or a toxic substance (Unicomb, 2009).…”

Bacterial Contamination of Food Handlers in X Hospital Palembang

“…The food handlers in Hospital with the bad personal hygiene could be a potential source of infection of a pathogenic organism [1][2][3][4]. The contaminated-food could occur at any point during the bacterial journey through production, processing, distribution, and preparation [2] [5][6]. The risk of food contamination depends on the health status of food handlers, personal hygiene, and knowledge, and practice of food hygiene [7][8].…”