Abstract :
Globally there is increasing incidence of food borne illness. Various cases of food borne illness occur due to improper food handling and its consumption. Food handling includes utensils used for plating and serving play a significant role in disease transmission. The purpose of this Study was Evaluation of bacterial contamination of the serving plates used in various canteens of Medical Institute. This Prospective Analytical study was conducted in the department of Microbiology, attached to a Tertiary Care Hospitals after obtaining ethical clearance over a time in two months.
Fifty four out of 90 samples were culture positive from various sites of the serving plates by canteens. Out of 54 isolates, Gram negative bacilli (n=30) were more common than Gram positive cocci (n=24). Gram positive cocci most resistant to Ampicillin and Cefoxitin and Gram negative most resistant to Cotrimoxazole. Present study highlights the need to provide guidelines for cleanliness to prevent the foodborne illness in various canteens attached to medial institutes.
Keyword :
Improper food handling, Serving plates, Food borne illness.