Abstract:
Staphylococcal foodpoisoning, occurmainly as a result of bad hygienic
conditions. The objective of this study was to detect Staphylococcus aureushand
carriageamong food handlers working in cafeterias in Khartoum Province. The
study was conducted during the period from June to September 2013.
Food handlers working in Sudan University of Science and Technology cafeterias
were included in this study. A pretested structuredquestionnairewas used for
collectingsociodemographic data.Hand swabs were collected from each
participant (right and left hands), from both sexes (males and females). Each swab
immediately cultured on suitable culture media (blood agar, MacConkey agar
and Mannitol salt agar).Gram stainingand biochemical tests used to identify
theStaphylococcus aureus.
A total of 110 swabs were collected from 55 food handlers. The data inthis
study confined clearly the existence ofStaphylococcus aureusonright hands
17/55(30.9%) and in lefthands10/55(18.1%). The prevalence rate of hand
carriage was 27(55) 49%.
From the above findings, the study concluded that hand carriers of Staphylococcus
aureusmay be sourceof food poisoning outbreak.Further study with
large number of hand swabs is required to validate the results of the present
study.
