Bacterial Assessment and Their Antibiotic Sensitivity Patterns of Nasal and Hand Swab Specimens From Food Handlers in Hospital Compounds in Mandalay, Myanmar: A Cross-sectional Descriptive or Observational Study

Abstract Background: Microbial contamination of food can occur from contaminated or infected food handlers. Methods: This study aimed to assess type of bacteria and their antibiotic sensitivity pattern of nasal and hand swab samples from food handlers working in hospital compounds, Mandalay city, Myanmar. All eligible food handlers working in the government hospital compound, Mandalay City, Myanmar, were subjected to a cross-sectional study conducted from May to August 2018. Hand and nasal swabs were collected from of food handlers for bacterial isolation and identification. Antibiotic sensitivity patterns of isolated bacteria were determined. Results: Among 111 participants, 92 (82.9%) were bacteria-positive by hand swabs and 77(69.37%) were positive by nasal swab. Among Staphylococcus aureus isolated from nasal swabs, just over a half (51.2%) were resistant to oxacillin (probably methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus). There were association between hand contamination and nasal bacterial growth (p<0.001). Conclusion: Bacterial contamination status of the food handler working in hospital compound, Mandalay city, Myanmar, was extremely high.