Prevalence, antimicrobial susceptibility pattern, and associated factors of Salmonella and Shigella among food handlers in Adigrat University student’s cafeteria, northern Ethiopia, 2018

Abstract

Background Food handlers play a significant role in the transmission of foodborne infections. Salmonella and Shigella are the most common foodborne pathogens and their infections are a major public health problem globally. Thus, this study aimed to determine the prevalence, antimicrobial susceptibility patterns, and associated factors of Salmonella and Shigella colonization among food handlers. Methodology A cross-sectional study was conducted from March to August 2018 at Adigrat University student cafeteria, Northern Ethiopia. Data on socio-demographic and associated factors were collected using a structured questionnaire. Fresh stool samples were collected from 301 food handlers and transported to Adigrat University Microbiology Laboratory. Bacterial isolation and antimicrobial susceptibility test were performed using standard bacteriological methods. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 22 and P < 0.05 where a corresponding 95% confidence interval was considered statistically significant. Results A total of 301 food handlers were included in this study. The majority of study participants were females 265 (88.0%). About 22 (7.3%) and 11 (3.7%) of food handlers were found to be positive for Salmonella and Shigella respectively. Hand washing after using a bathroom with water only, no hand washing after using the bathroom, no hand washing after touching dirty materials, no hand washing before food handling, and untrimmed fingernails were significant associated factors identified. None of the Salmonella and Shigella isolates were sensitive to ampicillin, yet low resistance against chloramphenicol, ceftriaxone, and ciprofloxacin was found. Conclusion The present study revealed that the prevalence of Salmonella and Shigella among food handlers was 22 (7.3%) and 11 (3.7%) respectively. Such colonized food handlers can contaminate food, and drinks and could serve as a source of infection to consumers. This indicates that there is a need for strengthened infection control measures to prevent Salmonella and Shigella transmission in the students’ cafeteria.

Prevalence of Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., and intestinal parasites among food handlers working in University of Gondar student’s cafeteria, Northwest Ethiopia

“…In this study, the magnitudes of Salmonella species among food handlers were 16 (5.5%). This was comparable to studies carried out in Northern Ethiopia, Adigrat (7.3%) ( 39 ), Southern, Ethiopia, Arba Minch (6.9%) ( 42 ), and Nigeria, (5.5%) ( 49 ). However, our result was higher than the studies reported from Ethiopia, Addis Ababa (3.5%) ( 46 ), Bahir Dar (1.6%) ( 23 ), and Gondar (3.1%) ( 50 ).…”

Occurrence of Diarrheagenic Pathogens and Their Coinfection Profiles in Diarrheic Under Five Children and Tracked Human Contacts in Urban and Rural Settings of Eastern Ethiopia

“…However, the prevalence of NTS in caretakers (7.5%), in the present study is comparable to the earlier report of study conducted on asymptomatic food handlers in Ethiopia. 77,78 Attributing to our study, Getie et al 30 also reported GNEBPs like Shigella spp., enterohemorrhagic, E. coli (EHEC), and S. enterica as important pathogens among asymptomatic food handlers. The higher prevalence of enteric bacterial FBPs in caretakers might also due to the small sample size considered in this particular study.…”

“…However, the prevalence of NTS in caretakers (7.5%), in the present study is comparable to the earlier report of study conducted on asymptomatic food handlers in Ethiopia. 77 , 78 …”

Prevalence of multidrug resistance Salmonella species isolated from clinical specimens at University of Gondar comprehensive specialized hospital Northwest Ethiopia: A retrospective study

“…This was comparable with previous reports in India 0.53% [46] and in Fijji 0.7% [47]. Besides, this study is lower than a study conducted in Ethiopia: Addis Ababa (4.1%) [48], in Ethiopia: Adigrat (7.3%) [49], Yemen 20% [50], in Nepal (3.1%) [51], and in Bangladesh (5%) [52]. The discrepancies in all of the above comparisons could be attributed to the fact that different, countries and within countries may be due to applying different test methods for the isolation of Salmonella species, economic status, characteristics of study participants, and epidemiological distributions of the pathogenic bacteria.…”