Nasal and Hand Carriage Rate of Staphylococcus aureus among Food Handlers Working in Jimma Town, Southwest Ethiopia

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Food handlers have been recognized to play amajor role in the transmission of food borne diseases, contributingsignificantly to the global incidence and burden of the diseases.This study, therefore, aimed to assess the nasal and hand carriageof Staphylococcus aureus among food handlers in Jimma Town.METHODS: A community based cross sectional study wasconducted from February to May 2017. Swab specimens fromnasopharyngeal and hands of food handlers working in foodestablishments were collected for isolation and identification of S.aureus using standard bacteriological methods. Antimicrobialsusceptibility test was done using disc diffusion method.Associations of selected variables for S. aureus colonization weredetermined using SPSS version 20 with p ≤ 0.05 taken asstatistically significant.RESULTS: Among the 300 food handlers working in hotels andrestaurants in Jimma Town, 86(28.7%) were colonized by S.aureus. The frequency of isolation of S. aureus from nose, handand both parts (nose and hand) were 27(9%), 34(11.3%) and25(8.3%), respectively. There was strong association (P=0.00336)between carriage rate of S. aureus and food handlers’ job category.The majority (90.7%) of the isolates were resistant to Penicillin andAmpicillin. Increased levels of sensitivity were observed againstCiprofloxacin (96.5%), Cefoxitin (95.3%) and Amoxicillin-Clavulanic Acid (94.2%).CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed a high prevalence of S.aureus carriers among food handlers and high antibacterialresistance towards commonly prescribed drugs, justifying thescreening of food handlers to detect and treat carriers and protectrestaurant customers from staphylococcal food poisoning.