Quantitative Risk Assessment for Salmonella in Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) Consumed in Benin, West Africa

The present study aims at quantitatively assessing the risk associated with Salmonella in lettuce (Lactuca sativa) consumed in Benin (West Africa). To that end, a survey was conducted involving 550 respondents to determine the conditions under which the product is handled along the supply chain and its consumption pattern. The prevalence and concentration of Salmonella in lettuce were collected from the literature. The consumption data and the data on Salmonella concentrations in lettuce were combined to estimate the exposure to Salmonella using a probabilistic risk assessment method. The @Risk software package (Palisade USA) was used to run Monte Carlo simulations with 10,000 iterations. Three dose-response models were used to assess the risk of salmonellosis. Different scenarios were tested to identify factors that could influence the risk of salmonellosis. The results showed that lettuce is exposed to temperature abuse under inappropriate hygienic conditions. In 90% of the cases, the exposure to Salmonella was between 3 and 7 log CFU/serving. The risk of salmonellosis per serving varied from 7.7% to 95% depending on the dose-response used with the scenario taking into account the current handling conditions of the lettuce. In contrast, when considering the scenario where the cold chain is respected along the supply chain, the risk of salmonellosis varied from 0% to 3.3% depending on the dose response used. The study highlights the importance of the cold chain, good agricultural practices and good hygienic practices to reduce exposure to Salmonella through the consumption of lettuce and thus the risk of salmonellosis.

A study to assess the assess the food safety knowledge and hygienic practices among food handlers

Background: Improper food production, handling, and preparation techniques have direct influence on health. A food borne disease is a disease usually either infectious or toxic in nature, caused by agents that enter the body through ingestion of food. The objective of the present study was to assess the food safety knowledge and hygienic practices among food handlers and to assess the improvement in knowledge and hygienic practices after educational intervention.Methods: This was a longitudinal educational interventional study, carried out during October to December 2017 among 50 randomly selected food handlers in and around Gandhi Medical College campus, where the study subjects were interviewed by using a questionnaire in local language regarding their knowledge and practices of food handling, and were then later educated on proper food handling practices by lecture and demonstration method followed by a post intervention interview after a gap of 2 weeks.Results: Out of 50 food handlers, 62% had knowledge of the food borne diseases and it raises up to 100% post intervention. During pre-intervention, only 78% of the participants used to wash their hands before preparing meal and after intervention 92% were washing their hands before preparing meal.Conclusions: Food safety knowledge and hygienic practices among food handlers improved by 73% after the educational intervention. Maximum improvement was seen in the use of gloves, caps and hand washing practices.

Contributing factors for intestinal parasitic infection in children: a study of Nepal

Background: Intestinal parasitic diseases are common health problems among children in Nepal. The presence of these diseases is an indication of poor hygienic practices. So our objective is to find out the factors that are responsible to cause such infections in our study population.Methods: This is a cross-sectional study to find the causes of parasitic intestinal infection in children. Stool specimens were collected from children below 15 years and studied by microscopy method to detect the causative organisms of infection.Results: Among the sample size of 305, 154 (50.5%) cases were found microscopically positive for parasitic diseases. Age and sex-wise study did not show the significant relationship (P>0.05) for infection. Entamoeba histolytica and Giardia lamblia had higher prevalence i.e., 18.03% (55/154) and 16.06% (49/154). Likewise, infection was higher in children using untreated water sources and municipal water. Many children with unsanitary habits like not washing hands properly before and after eating meals and after using toilet and nail biting habits developed more positive infection. The relationship in this case was significant (P<0.05).Conclusions: Thus, the contributing factors for intestinal parasitic infection in children are lack of hygienic practices among children. Such habits can cause ingestion of infective parasites in the intestine which eventually causes diseases.

Conocimiento y aplicación en prácticas higiénicas en la elaboración de alimentos y auto-reporte de intoxicaciones alimentarias en hogares chilenos / Knowledge and application in hygienic practices in food preparation and self-report of food poisoning in Chilean homes

Resumen Introducción: Las enfermedades transmitidas por alimentos en el hogar son consideradas una problemática nacional; sin embargo, existe poca información sobre hábitos de manipulación en el hogar. Objetivo: Determinar el conocimiento y aplicación de prácticas higiénicas en la elaboración de alimentos y auto-reporte de intoxicaciones alimentarias en hogares chilenos. Material y Métodos: Se confeccionó una encuesta de 15 preguntas en formato google docs, se consultó sobre prácticas de manipulación de alimentos en el hogar y auto-reporte de intoxicaciones alimentarias. Resultados: Se encuestó a 2.024 personas. Noventa y seis por ciento elabora alimentos en el hogar; del total que lo hace, 88% de los encuestados considera importante las buenas prácticas de manipulación de alimentos en el hogar y 76% asegura saber sobre la contaminación cruzada. Más de 40% inicia su compra en los supermercados con productos lácteos y cárnicos, generando una pérdida de cadena de frío; 56% de los encuestados indica que descongelan los alimentos a temperatura ambiente. Con respecto a frutas o verduras, sólo 12,5% utiliza un desinfectante. Del total de los que elaboran alimentos en el hogar, 17% indica haber sufrido una intoxicación alimentaria y de éstas, sólo 64% asiste al médico. Conclusión: A pesar de que se considera importante las buenas prácticas de manipulación de alimentos en el hogar, estas prácticas no son ejecutadas.

Background: Foodborne diseases in the home are considered a problem at the national level, however, there is little information about household handling habits. Aim: To Identify the hygienic practices of people who prepare food at home and self-reporting food intoxication in Chilean homes. Material and Methods: A survey with 15 questions was made in google docs, containing questions about food handling practices and self-reporting food intoxication. Results: 2024 people were surveyed. Ninety six percent prepare food at home, of the total whom cook, 88% of respondents consider important good food handling practices at home, 76% say they know about the concept of cross contamination, however, more than 40% start their purchase in supermarkets with dairy and meat products which indicates that there is a high probability of cold chain loss, 56% of respondents indicate that they defrost food at room temperature, and with respect to fruits or vegetables only 12.5% use a disinfectant. Of the total number of respondents, 17% indicated that they had suffered food poisoning and of these only 64% attended the doctor. Conclusion: Although it is argued to have knowledge about good food handling practices, some important practices are not carried out.

Perceptions and concerns of women undergoing Pap smear examination in a tertiary care hospital of India.

Background: Cervical cancer is one of the major causes of deaths due to cancer among women in India. Pap smear is one of the best methods to detect early changes in cervix. However, there is lack of data on awareness level of women about Pap smear and various risk factors for cervical cancer. Objectives: To study the awareness about various risk factors for cervical cancer, health-seeking behavior and hygienic practices among women and to assess the distress experienced by these women before the Pap smear examination. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on women coming for a Pap smear examination in a tertiary teaching hospital in New Delhi. A pretested interview schedule was used to get information after obtaining their informed consent. Results: Fifty-seven percent stated that they did not consult a doctor when they noticed the symptoms the first time. Sixty-one percent did not know what a cervical cancer is and a same percentage of women did not know what a Pap smear examination was. Older age group, Muslim and literate women had higher number of abnormal Pap smear results. Women who reported being stressed in their lives had higher number of abnormal smears as compared to women who claimed to lead a stress free life. Poor hygienic practices among these women from urban areas were also associated with abnormal Pap smear results. Conclusion: The study concluded that factors such as poor awareness, shyness, poor hygiene, and old age could be responsible for abnormal Pap smears and this needs special attention in cancer prevention activities of the government.