Humodi Ahmed Saeed1, Hatim Hassan Hamid. 1. College of Medical Laboratory Science, Sudan University of Science and Technology, Khartoum, Sudan. biotechsust@hotmail.com
Abstract
BACKGROUND/ PURPOSE: Pathogenic organisms are thought to be widely distributed among food handlers. This study was designed to assess the prevalence of carriers of some pathogenic bacteria and intestinal parasites among food handlers in the city of Omdurman, Sudan. METHODS: A total of 518 nasal swabs and stool specimens were collected. Nasal swabs were cultured on bacteriological culture media. Stool specimens were examined microscopically for intestinal parasites. RESULTS: Of the total subjects examined, 30.1% were found to be carriers of pathogenic organisms. The pathogens isolated and identified were the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi, and Shigella boydii, and the intestinal parasites, Giardia lamblia and Entamoeba histolytica/dispar. Bacteria and intestinal parasites were most prevalent among storekeepers (41%), followed by restaurant workers (24.4%), bakers (24.4%), butchers (5.1%), milk distributors (2.6%), and fruits/vegetables sellers (2.6%). S. aureus, the most abundant pathogen, was most prevalent in storekeepers (44.6%), followed by restaurant workers (25%), bakers (17.9%), butchers (5.4%), milk distributors (3.6%), and fruit/vegetable sellers (3.6%). CONCLUSION: The findings from this study indicate a key role for food handlers in the spread and transmission of food communicable diseases and reveal the need for protective measures.
BACKGROUND/ PURPOSE: Pathogenic organisms are thought to be widely distributed among food handlers. This study was designed to assess the prevalence of carriers of some pathogenic bacteria and intestinal parasites among food handlers in the city of Omdurman, Sudan. METHODS: A total of 518 nasal swabs and stool specimens were collected. Nasal swabs were cultured on bacteriological culture media. Stool specimens were examined microscopically for intestinal parasites. RESULTS: Of the total subjects examined, 30.1% were found to be carriers of pathogenic organisms. The pathogens isolated and identified were the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi, and Shigella boydii, and the intestinal parasites, Giardia lamblia and Entamoeba histolytica/dispar. Bacteria and intestinal parasites were most prevalent among storekeepers (41%), followed by restaurant workers (24.4%), bakers (24.4%), butchers (5.1%), milk distributors (2.6%), and fruits/vegetables sellers (2.6%). S. aureus, the most abundant pathogen, was most prevalent in storekeepers (44.6%), followed by restaurant workers (25%), bakers (17.9%), butchers (5.4%), milk distributors (3.6%), and fruit/vegetable sellers (3.6%). CONCLUSION: The findings from this study indicate a key role for food handlers in the spread and transmission of food communicable diseases and reveal the need for protective measures.
Authors: Hagen Frickmann; Norbert G Schwarz; Dorothea F Wiemer; Marcellus Fischer; Egbert Tannich; Patrick L Scheid; Martin Müller; Ulrich Schotte; Wolfgang Bock; Ralf M Hagen Journal: Eur J Microbiol Immunol (Bp) Date: 2013-03-13
Authors: Hagen Frickmann; Philipp Warnke; Claudia Frey; Salvatore Schmidt; Christian Janke; Kay Erkens; Ulrich Schotte; Thomas Köller; Winfried Maaßen; Andreas Podbielski; Alfred Binder; Rebecca Hinz; Benjamin Queyriaux; Dorothea Wiemer; Norbert Georg Schwarz; Ralf Matthias Hagen Journal: Biomed Res Int Date: 2015-10-11 Impact factor: 3.411