title: Parasitic and bacterial infestation among food handlers in jubail, eastern region of saudi arabia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the prevalence of parasitic and bacterial infestations among food handlers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Food handlers working in the Military food serving facilities in Jubail (Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia).
  
  
  METHODS
  The stool samples of 881 food handlers of different nationalities were examined at the Armed Forces Hospital laboratory using the concentration method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 194 (20%) of the workers tested positive for enteric microbial infestation. Helminths were the most prevalent, infecting 93 (10.56%) of the food handlers; followed by protozoa which affected 65 (7.38%) food handlers; and the smallest group was infected with bacteria in 44 (4.9%) of the food handlers. Not only single organism infection was seen (83.94%), but also double (14.51%) and triple (1.55%) infections. Among the Helminths, Ascaris lumbricoides was the most prevalent with 33 (47.14%) cases, Giardia lamblia was the most prevalent Protozoa with 23 (43.40%) cases, and Salmonella was the most prevalent bacteria with 34 (87.18%) cases. Expatriates from South Asia showed a significant rate of infection when compared to expatriates from Arabian countries. The Bangladeshi food handlers were of the greatest prevalence of infection with 151 (17.14%) cases, followed by Indian workers with 17 (1.93%) cases, and Pakistani workers with 11 (1.25%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study stresses the importance of regular check-ups and prompt treatment of infected food handler.
authors.affiliation: Armed Forces Hospital, Jubail, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Al-Ghamdi