EFFECT OF ANTISEPTICS AGAINST STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS ON THE HANDS OF FOOD HANDLERS AND SUSCEPTIBILITY OF PERSISTENT STRAINS TO ANTIBIOTICS

Abstract

Effect of antiseptics against Staphylococcus aureus on the hands of food handlers was investigated.
The palms of 50 food handlers in restaurants of a tertiary institution in Lagos, Nigeria were swabbed
before and after the use of antiseptics and analysed for the presence and population of
Staphylococcus aureus. Mannitol Salt Agar (MSA) plates were inoculated with the swab sticks and
incubated at 37oC for 24-48h. S. aureus was identified by the production of golden yellow colonies
on MSA, Gram positive cocci in bunches that were catalase and coagulase positive, and oxidase
negative. A total of 2.2 × 103
cfu/ml/5cm2 were obtained before the use of antiseptics and 3.79 ×
102
cfu/ml/5cm2 after the use of antiseptics. Antiseptics had 83% reduction on S. aureus. Of the two
antiseptics used, chloroxylenol (4.8%) had a 69% effect while alcohol gel proved to be more
effective with a 90% reduction on S. aureus. A total of 41(82%) out of the 50 food handlers had S.
aureus on their palms. The antibiotics susceptibility of S. aureus was investigated. Vancomycin
(30μg) was the most resisted antibiotics with 57% followed by 28% resistance against oxacillin (1μ)
18% against cefoxitine (30μ). The food handlers may therefore be considered potential source of
multidrug resistant S. aureus in food. We therefore recommend that they use antiseptics on their
palms since this helped in the reduction of staphylococcal population.