A SURVEY OF FOOD BORNE BACTERIAL CONTAMINATION IN 14 HOSPITALS OF TEHRAN

Abstract

Nosocomial infection and its heavy financial cost is a well recognized problem. A variety of sources of organisms involved in nosocomial infection have been identified in recent years. One potential route of bacterial infection is contamination. In order to assess the importance of food contamination, we carried out a survey of bacterial examination of food and the kitchen environment of 14 hospitals. 456 samples were examined. Bacterial growth was observed in 40% and salad yielded the highest frequencies of isolation of bacteria (P<0.001). Our results strongly suggest that some foods and hospital kitchens are contaminated, and can be sources of endemic infection for hospitalized patients. So we emphasize on increasing awareness, and efforts should be made for improvement of hospital hygiene to control infections.