INTESTINAL PARASITIC INFECTION IN FOODHANDLERS: IN THE HOSPITALS AFFILIATED TO ISFAHAN UNIVERSITY OF MEDICAL SCIENCES – 1997

Abstract

Introduction: Foodhandlers can be carriers of organisms such as salmonella, staphylococci and intestinal parasitic infections. Considering that some patients in hospitals may have impaired resistance to infection and the possible role of foodhandlers in this regard, it seems to be necessary to examine the role of foodhandlers in transmission of intestinal parasitic infection.
Methods: 152 foodhandlers were evaluated for their intestinal protozoan and helminthic infections in the hospitals of the Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. From each subject, three stool - specimens were taken in three consecutive days. Five methods (Scotch tape, Direct examination, Formalin - Ether, Telleman, Flotation) were used to detect ova and cyst.
Results: The overall infection rate was (55.3 percent). The most commonly protozoa was Entamoeba Coli (in 33.6 percent of specimens). Others were Endolimax nana (17.8 percent), Blastocystis hominis (9.2 percent), Giardia lamblia (7.9 percent), Iodamoeba butschlii (2 percent) and Chilomastix mesnili (0.7 percent) respectively. The helminths observed were Enterobius vermicularis (9.1 percent), Hymenolepis nana (1.3 percent), Ascaris lumbricoides (0.7 percent), Trichuris trichiura (0.7 percent) and Trichostrongylus spp(0.7 percent).
Discussion: Deficiencies in hygienic practices and poor basic environmental sanitation are the contributing factors in the maintenance of the high prevalence of the intestinal protozoan infections found.