SALMONELLA, SHIGELLA AND INTESTINAL PARASITE CARRIAGE RATE AMONG FOOD HANDLERS IN UNIVERSITY OF ILORIN TEACHING HOSPITAL, ILORIN
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Date
2020
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Society for Gastroenterology and Hepatology in Nigeria (SOGHIN)
Abstract
Background: Food borne diseases such as salmonellosis, shigellosis and intestinal parasitosis remain a major public health problem across the globe. Health care workers, hospitalized patients and indeed the entire community are at risk of acquiring these diseases. Hospitalized patients are particularly at risk largely due to compromised immunity.
Food handlers with poor personal hygiene could be potential sources of infections by the agents of these diseases. In Nigeria, data on the prevalence of enteric pathogens among food handlers is scarce.
Aim: To determine the prevalence of Salmonella, Shigella and Intestinal parasites among food handlers in University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin.
Methodology: Cross sectional study was conducted from May to June, 2018 at all the catering establishments in the hospital. Finger swab and stool specimens were collected from 81 food handlers. Microscopic examination and culture were performed on stool specimens for isolation of intestinal parasites and Salmonella spp and Shigella spp, respectively.
Results: Of the total 81 food-handlers screened for enteric pathogens, 11.1% were found to be positive for different types of intestinal parasites. Among the parasites, E. histolytica and hookworms were the most prevalent parasites (33.3% each), followed by Taenia spp (22.2%) and A. lumbricoides (11.2%). Salmonella spp was detected in 1.2% of the food handlers. No Shigella spp was detected in stool cultures. None of the sought
pathogens was recovered from the finger swabs.
Conclusion: The prevalence of Salmonella spp., Shigella spp. and intestinal parasites among the food handlers in this study is low. The level of education of the food handlers was significantly associated with presence of intestinal parasite in their stool.
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Keywords
Salmonella, Shigella, food handlers