Resumen

FLOREZ, Astrid Carolina et al. Factors related to foodborne diseases in restaurants from 5 Colombian cities, 2007. Infect. [online]. 2008, vol.12, n.4, pp.255-266. ISSN 0123-9392.

Background: In Colombia, there is an underreporting of cases of foodborne diseases. The World Health Organization suggests that contamination of food occurs mostly in homes and places where food is prepared for sale, by inadequate hygiene and handling. Objective: To identify factors related to the transmission of foodborne diseases in food shops. Materials and methods: In five Colombian cities, 300 establishments and 1,522 food handlers were surveyed; microbiological cultures from the hands were done in all cases; stool samples were taken from 1,286 food handlers, for ova and parasite examination. Results: 8.3% (25) of the food shops were not located in adequated places, 37.7% ⁽¹¹³⁾ had no sanitation plans and only 8.7% ⁽²⁶⁾ realized correct food storage practices. 50.3% (765) of handlers had a medical examination before being admitted to work, and 60.7% (924) carried out a food handling course. Inappropriate working practices such as handling money and food simultaneously (17%), use of jewelry (15.2%), and having long nails with enamel (8.9%) were found. 15.2% (231) manifested not washing their hands when handling money, this habit was 1.3 times greater than in those who received no training (RR=1.36; 95 CI%: 1.10-1.69). 26.9% were positive for intestinal parasites, 49 (3.8%) for pathogenic parasites; 6 (0.46%) for pathogenic entero-bacteria and 8 (0.52%) hand cultures were positive for Staphylococccus aureus. Conclusion: Flaws in compliance of good manufacturing practices and bad hygienic habits of food handlers were found. These factors facilitate the presence of foodborne disease outbreaks.

Palabras clave : foodborne diseases; handlers; habits.

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