phenylephrine-hydrochloride and Intestinal-Diseases--Parasitic

Food borne disease are major health problems in developing countries like Ethiopia. Food handlers with poor personal hygiene working in food establishments could be potential sources of disease due to pathogenic organisms. However; information on disease prevalence among food handlers working in University of Gondar cafeterias are very scarce. The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence of nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus, their drug resistance pattern and prevalence of intestinal parasites among food handlers working in University of Gondar student's cafeterias.. A cross sectional study was conducted among food handlers working in University of Gondar student's cafeterias. A pretested structured questionnaire was used for collecting data. Nasal swab and stool were investigated for S. aureus and intestinal parasites; respectively as per the standard of the laboratory methods.. Among 200 food handlers, females comprised 171(85.5%). The majority (67.5%) of the food-handlers were young adults aged 18-39 years. One hundred ninety four (97%) of the food handlers were not certified as a food handler. Forty one (20.5%) food handlers were positive for nasal carriage of S. aureus, of these 4(9.8%) was resistant for methicilin. Giardia lamblia was the most prevalent parasites 22 (11%), followed by Ascaris lumbricoides 13(6.5%), Entamoeba histolytica 12 (6%), Strongyloides stercolaris (0.5), Taenia species 1(0.5%) and Schistosoma mansoni 1(0.5%).. The finding stressed that food handlers with different pathogenic micro organisms may pose significant risk on the consumers. Higher officials should implement food handler's training on food safety, periodic medical checkup and continuous monitoring of personal hygiene of food handlers.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Carrier State; Cross-Sectional Studies; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; Ethiopia; Female; Food Handling; Food Services; Humans; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic; Male; Nose; Prevalence; Staphylococcus aureus; Universities; Young Adult

Food handlers play a major role in the transmission of foodborne diseases. Nasal Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) carriage and intestinal parasitism are important risk factors in contamination. The purpose of the authors' study was to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites and nasal S. aureus carriage among food handlers in Manisa, Turkey. The authors investigated 8,895 people for nasal S. aureus carriage and intestinal parasites. Nasal swab materials and stool samples were examined, and anal cellophane band method was performed. The authors found that S. aureus was isolated in 69 (0.77%) samples. All S. aureus strains were oxacilline sensitive. Intestinal parasites were found in 784 (8.8%) samples. The most common parasites were Entamoeba histolytica (69.9%) and Giardia intestinalis (24.6%). The authors conclude that food handlers should be screened and treated from time to time and that a periodic program of health education on food safety and hygiene should be given.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Carrier State; Humans; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic; Middle Aged; Nose; Prevalence; Restaurants; Staphylococcus aureus; Turkey

Topics: Adolescent; Anemia; Arm; Australia; Bacteria; Body Height; Body Weight; Child; Child, Preschool; Ear, External; Eosinophilia; Health Surveys; Hearing Disorders; Humans; Infant; Infant Mortality; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic; Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander; Nose; Protein-Energy Malnutrition; Residence Characteristics