Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health
Volume 29, Issue 7, 2017, Pages 599-607

Microorganisms as an Indicator of Hygiene Status Among Migrant Food Handlers in Peninsular Malaysia (Article)

Woh P.Y. , Thong K.L. , Lim Y.A.L. , Behnke J.M. , Lewis J.W. , Mohd Zain S.N.*
  • a University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • b University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • c University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • d University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
  • e Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, United Kingdom
  • f University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Abstract

This study used microbial indicators to assess the hygiene status of 383 migrant food handlers from 3 urban cities in Peninsular Malaysia. Microbiological analysis revealed that all the hand swabs tested 99.5% positive for aerobic plate counts (mean [M] ± standard deviation [SD] = 3.57 ± 0.83 log10CFU [colony forming unit]), 20.8% positive for total coliform/Escherichia coli (M ± SD = 0.30 ± 0.67 log10CFU), and 63.4% positive for Staphylococcus aureus (M ± SD = 1.38 ± 1.26 log10CFU). In addition, aerobic plate counts and Staphylococcus aureus counts exceeded the acceptable standard levels. Bacterial counts were found to be significantly associated with subjects’ country of origin (P =.019) and working responsibilities (P =.001). Our findings indicate high probability of transmission of pathogenic bacteria from the food handlers’ hands to customers during meal preparation and serving. This calls for improvements in personal hygiene and sanitation standards by the relevant health authorities among migrant food handlers. © 2017, © 2017 APJPH.

Author Keywords

Migrant food handler Sanitation personal hygiene bacterial hand contamination microbial indicator

Index Keywords

food processing bacterial count Escherichia coli coliform bacterium human middle aged microorganism statistics and numerical data probability nonhuman hygiene Young Adult sanitation migrant Humans responsibility male female Staphylococcus aureus contamination Malaysia colony forming unit plate count standards isolation and purification Bacteria bacterium city adult migration microbiology Transients and Migrants personal hygiene hand food handling
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85032929085&doi=10.1177%2f1010539517735856&partnerID=40&md5=d4873276eed5cce34ecabc8463b6860f
DOI: 10.1177/1010539517735856
ISSN: 10105395
Original Language: English