title: Occupational exposure to raw meat: a newly-recognized risk factor for Staphylococcus aureus nasal colonization amongst food handlers.
abstract: Staphylococcus aureus contaminating raw meat may increase nasal colonization risk for occupationally-exposed food handlers. Food handlers from six catering establishments were nasally sampled for S. aureus and completed a questionnaire on carriage risk factors. Isolates were characterized for antibiotic susceptibility, spa type and, for methicillin-resistant strains, SCCmec type. Of 434 food handlers, 99 (22.8%) were colonized with S. aureus. Five isolates were methicillin-resistant belonging to SCCmec IV (2) and V (3). Resistance to tetracycline (20%), and erythromycin (16%) was high, but <10% to other antibiotics. Spa typing revealed 17% of isolates as t189, with 8% each t127 and t1081. Food handlers ever handling raw meat had a significantly higher colonization risk (OR=2.7; 95% CI: 1.7-4.5), increasing to 3.7 (95% CI: 2.0-6.8) for those always exposed. This is the first report of increased colonization risk in food handlers exposed to raw meat. This occupational hazard may increase infection risk, so improved compliance with workplace hygiene may be required.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong. Electronic address: margaret.o.donoghue@polyu.edu.hk.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: O'Donoghue
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Technology and Informatics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Boost
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D002353:Carrier State; D004351:Drug Resistance; D005260:Female; D005511:Food Handling; D005516:Food Microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat / Q000382:microbiology*; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; D009666:Nose / Q000382:microbiology*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
keywords: Colonization; Food handler; Meat; Occupational risk; S. aureus