Antimicrobial-Resistant Pathogens in Food Handlers Serving in Mass Catering Centers

Abstract BackgroundThe prevalence of antimicrobial-resistant pathogens, including foodborne antibiotic-resistant bacteria, is ever increasing. An increase in antimicrobial resistance results in treatment failure and outbreaks. Mass food serving institutions are at a high risk of outbreaks due to the probability of mass infection.ObjectiveThis study aims to determine the contamination of food handlers with antibiotic-resistant bacteria and its associated factors at Debre Tabor University cafeteria.MethodsA laboratory-based cross-sectional study was conducted by following standard microbiological methods to isolate and identify foodborne bacteria from the hands of food handlers. The Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method was used for perform the resistance profiles of the foodborne bacteria that were identified from the hands of the food in March 2020. Thirty samples each from hand and food utensil swabs were collected. Besides, work experience, drug use characteristics, and educational status of the food handler’s data were collected by using an observational checklist and interview questions. Descriptive statistics, correlation, and linear regressions were used to analyze the data.ResultsThe result shows the contamination of food handlers with varying pathogenic microbial organisms. The food handlers were mostly contaminated with multiple antibiotics-resistance (MAR) of Escherichia coli 43% (95% CI: 41.2%, 46.9%), Salmonella 36.7% (95% CI:33.2%, 38.7%), and Shigella 20% (95% CI: 19.2%, 26.9%). The study identifies poor personnel hygiene, lack of food safety training, and lack of sufficient food safety knowledge of the food handlers.ConclusionsThe contamination of food handlers with antimicrobial-resistant microbes at the university cafeteria could indicate the likelihood of the occurrence of foodborne outbreaks. Hence, continuous awareness creation and strict supervision were preventing the contamination of the food and related consequences.