Hand Contamination among Food Handlers: A Study on the Assessment of Food Handlers in Canteen of Various Hospitals in Solapur City, Maharashtra

Carriage of Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria and Associated Factors Among Food Handlers in Tamale Metropolis, Ghana: Implications for Food Safety

Background

Bacteria pathogens constitute a significant proportion of diarrhoea-causing food contaminants. Transmission of antibiotic resistant foodborne pathogens to humans is a major threat to food safety, especially in developing countries where quality hygiene and sanitation facilities are lacking. Factors related to antibiotic use, sanitation and hand hygiene have been associated with the spread of infectious diseases as well as antibiotic resistant bacteria. Proper food handling ensures that food is not contaminated with potential pathogenic bacteria. This study assessed the carriage of antibiotic resistant bacteria and associated factors.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted among food handlers who sell ready to eat food in the Tamale metropolis of the Northern Region of Ghana. Food vending stations with huge customer base were randomly selected and the food handlers recruited using written informed consent. Structured questionnaires were used to collect participants sociodemographic details and information on sanitation, hand hygiene practice and antibiotic use. Sterile cotton swabs soaked in phosphate buffered saline was used to swab the palms of participating food handlers for bacteria isolation. All identified bacteria were tested for susceptibility to 12 antibiotics.

Results

In all, 406 food handlers participated in this study, the mean (SD) age was 26.5 (2.64) years. Bacteria isolated were predominantly Staphylococci 60 (14.8%) and Escherichia coli 54 (13.3%). All the isolates were resistant to at least one antibiotic tested. The isolates showed high resistance to broad-spectrum antibiotics such as ampicillin (40.0%-75.0%), tetracycline (40.0%-80.0%), amoxiclav (20.0%-80.0%) and chloramphenicol (7.7%-50.0%). Logistic regression model revealed that the carriage of antibiotic resistant bacteria by food handlers was significantly associated with age, educational level, years on the job, training in food preparation, hygiene practice, water source, type of toilet facility used and antibiotic use.

Conclusion

Street food handlers could be potential sources of food-borne transmission of antibiotic resistant bacteria.

Handwashing Practice of Food Establishment Customers, Microbial Quality of Handwashing Water, and Associated Factors in Ginjo Kebele, Jimma Town, Southwest Ethiopia

Handwashing plays a major role in preventing the spread of infection and, if poorly implemented, leads to different illnesses. However, the quality of water meant for handwashing and handwashing practice and hand hygiene conditions of food establishment customers are overlooked issues, unlike drinking water and hygienic conditions and practice of food handlers. This study aimed to assess the microbial quality of water used for handwashing and hygienic practice and the status of customers of food establishments and associated factors in Ginjo Kebele, Jimma town, Southwest, Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study design was employed in July 2022. Forty water and 40 hand swab samples were taken and analyzed for total coliform and E. coli using the spread plate method. Handwashing facility conditions and the handwashing practices of customers were assessed using a checklist and questionnaire. The data were analyzed by SPSS version 23 software. The median handwashing water total coliform count was 390.0 CFU/ml. The median hand swab samples' total coliform and E. coli load were 21.6 and 4.8 CFU/cm², respectively after handwashing practice. There was an uphill correlation between the handwashing water and hand swab sample total coliform load (r = .34, P = .032). The mean handwashing efficacy for the removal of total coliform was 25.8%. The microbial load was varied with the type of water container used, method of taking water from the container, handwashing practice, and hand drying. The microbial quality of handwashing water and hand swab samples didn't comply with the acceptable limit. Thus, governmental bodies should work to improve the handwashing practice of communities. Food establishment owners should treat water for handwashing, clean the water containers, handle the water properly, and avail soap and poster demonstrators to the handwashing facilities. The customers should also comply with proper hand washing practices and reduce hand contamination.