TITLE:
Enterotoxigenicity of Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Food Handlers during Hajj Season in Saudi Arabia
AUTHORS:
Anas Serag Dablool, Saeed Saeed Al-Ghamdi
KEYWORDS:
Staphylococcus aureus, Makkah, Hajj, Enterotoxin
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Safety Science and Technology,
Vol.1 No.2,
September
28,
2011
ABSTRACT: Food poisoning during Hajj season is one of the main hazardous issues where most of the health services in Saudi Arabia are targeting to minimize every year during Hajj seasons. Ordinarily, food handlers are subjected to medical examination before assignment to work. However, they are mostly lacking proper training in food handling operations, mass feeding, and sanitary practices. This situation may encourage causing food poisoning especially with staphylococcus enterotoxins. 1516 clinical specimens from food handlers of different nationalities in Makkah were microbiologically investigated for bacterial pathogens during the hajj seasons of 2001-2002 in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. 129 Staphylococcus aureus isolates were isolated. Of which, 35% produced enterotoxins A, B, C and D singly or in pairs, when such enterotoxins were evaluated by Reversed Passive Latex Agglutination test (RPLA). Enterotoxins C and A, elaborated by 15.5% and 12.4%, isolates respectively, which showed the highest percentage. They were mostly isolated from nasal swabs than throat swabs. All isolates were resistant to Penicillin G. On the other hand, they were sensitive to Clindamycin, Oxacillin and Gentamicin when tested by Kirby-Bauer method. The (RPLA) method yielded satisfactory results.