Occurrence of drug-resistant enteric bacteria and associated factors among food handlers of the Mass Catering Center: A laboratory-based cross-sectional study

Abstract

This study aimed to determine antimicrobial-resistance (AMR) enteric bacterial load and associated factors among Food Handlers (FHs) ofMass Catering Center (MCC), Ethiopia. From January to June 2020, a laboratory-based cross-sectional study was conducted using the standard Swab microbiological analysis method and the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method on 160 randomly selected FHs and food serving areas and analyzed with RStudio1.2.5033 for contamination, resistance level, and source determination. The contamination of AMR Escherichia coli was33.3% (95% CI, 31.5%, 36.4%), Salmonella 30% (95% CI, 29.8%, 36.0%) and Shigella 20% (95% CI, 19.2%, 26.9%) among the hand of FHs serving in MCC. The contamination was more likely associated with low work experience [AOR, 1.42 (95% CI: 1.22-1.87)], a low educational level [AOR, 1.62 (95% CI: 1.52-189)], irrational drug use characteristics [AOR, 1.75(95% CI: 1.64-2.00)], lack of sufficient food safety knowledge [AOR, 1.52 (95% CI: 1.32-1, 67)] of the FHs and the sanitary condition of the food serving area [AOR:1.98 (95% CI, 1.45, 2.53)]. The contamination of the hand of FHs serving in the MCC with AMR enteric FBB at the University cafeteria could indicate the likelihood of the occurrence of foodborne outbreaks.