title: [The distribution of microorganisms in household kitchens. II. Evaluation of results and hygienic inferences].
abstract: The very high morbidity rates of Enteritis infectiosa diseases demand improved prophylactic measures. An important indication of the source of these illnesses is the fact that infections in private households are about three times more frequent than in canteens. Indeed, the rise in morbidity is undoubtedly caused by inadequate treatment of raw products, of meal rests and by insufficient heating processes. Furthermore, in household kitchens no efforts are made to interrupt infection chains, and disinfections are considered as superfluous and housewives are content if their kitchens appear to be clean. The aim of our study performed in a normal household kitchen, was to investigate cross-contamination caused by pathogens, introduced into the kitchen from outdoors. A further aim was to establish the main sources of contamination in order to be able to recommend practical disinfection procedures. The main fields of contamination discovered when 55 meals prepared were: a) working surfaces (including boards of wood and plastics) b) kitchen- and cutting-machines. The amount of test organisms (Sarcinae), introduced into the kitchen (unbeknown to the housewives) by experimentally contaminated minced meat was only reduced by common cleaning procedures, in sofar as nearly half of the original contaminations could be demonstrated to be still present. However, when the normal cleanser was replaced by one containing hypochlorite, and with retention of the same working routines, about 90% bacteriologically clean surfaces were determined. In this way it could be demonstrated that infection chains can be interrupted. It is, however, not correct to compare the efficiency of these procedures with the efficiency of disinfection, according to the Federal Infectious Diseases Act (Bundesseuchengesetz). On practical application of these experiences it must be borne in mind that housewives should not be forced to apply medical disinfection procedures: indeed, traditional and practised cleaning methods should be retained, as far as possible. We recommend therefore that manufacturers supply household cleansers with an anti-bacterial additive, after its application in the kitchens working surfaces and machines are bacteriologically clean. Additionally housewives should be appropriately informed about the necessity of these manipulations. We consider minimization of toxicity and a thorough environmental compatibility of formulations to be self-evident.
mesh_terms: D003297:Cooking and Eating Utensils; D004202:Disinfectants; D004203:Disinfection; D005516:Food Microbiology; D006796:Household Work; D006801:Humans; D008460:Meat; D012505:Sarcina / Q000254:growth & development*; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite; D013242:Sterilization
chemical_list: D004202:Disinfectants; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite
vernacular_title: Untersuchungen zur Keimverbreitung in Haushaltküchen II. Mitteilung: Beurteilung der Resultate und hygienische Schlussfolgerungen.