Journal of Clinical Nutrition & Dietetics

Nasal Colonization of Methicillin Resistance Staphylococcus aureus among Food Handlers in the Eateries Obafemi Awolowo University Ile Ife, Nigeria

Food handlers have been recognized to play a major role in the transmission of food borne diseases; contributing significantly to the global incidence and burden of diseases. This study assesses nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus among food handlers in the Obafemi Awolowo University eateries. A total of 35 nasal swab samples were collected and analyzed using standard conventional methods of microbial analysis in isolation and identification of S. aureus including catalase, coagulase and DNase tests as well as the antibiotic susceptibility of the isolates. The result showed that the prevalence of nasal carriage of S. aureus in Obafemi Awolowo University eateries was 13 (37.14%). The antibiotic susceptibility shown that all isolates were 100% sensitive to pefloxacin, zinnacel and ciprofloxacin while gentamycin (84.61%), ampiclox (30.77%), amoxicillin (30.77%), rocephin (61.53%), streptomycin (69.23%), septrin (23.07%), and erythromycin (46.18%) respectively. Concerted effort need to be made to educate food handlers and restaurant workers on the importance of personal hygiene and the use of protective gadget like nose masks while handling food products.

Author(s):

Joseph Omololu-Aso, Oluwaseun Oluwatoyin Omololu-Aso, Olutobi Olufunmilayo Otusanya Hellen Chineye Ochada and Arwa Shesha

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