PARASITIC AND BACTERIAL INFESTATION AMONG FOOD HANDLERS IN JUBAIL, EASTERN REGION OF SAUDI ARABIA

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of parasitic and bacterial infestations among food handlers. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Food handlers working in the Military food serving facilities in Jubail (Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia). METHOD: The stool samples of 881 food handlers of different nationalities were examined at the Armed Forces Hospital laboratory using the concentration method. RESULTS: A total of 194 (20%) of the workers tested positive for enteric microbial infestation. Helminths were the most prevalent, infecting 93 (10.56%) of the food handlers; followed by protozoa which affected 65 (7.38%) food handlers; and the smallest group was infected with bacteria in 44 (4.9%) of the food handlers. Not only single organism infection was seen (83.94%), but also double (14.51%) and triple (1.55%) infections. Among the Helminths, Ascaris lumbricoides was the most prevalent with 33 (47.14%) cases, Giardia lamblia was the most prevalent Protozoa with 23 (43.40%) cases, and Salmonella was the most prevalent bacteria with 34 (87.18%) cases. Expatriates from South Asia showed a significant rate of infection when compared to expatriates from Arabian countries. The Bangladeshi food handlers were of the greatest prevalence of infection with 151 (17.14%) cases, followed by Indian workers with 17 (1.93%) cases, and Pakistani workers with 11 (1.25%). CONCLUSION: The study stresses the importance of regular check-ups and prompt treatment of infected food handler.