Occurrence of antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus and of Entamoeba coli and Ascaris lumbricoides parasites in the school snacks

Abstract

Several outbreaks of food-borne diseases have been reported in schools, and these have been responsible for causing death of millions children per year worldwide. The objective of this study was to evaluate the rate of microbiological and parasitological contamination of school meals. This study evaluated 102 samples of different types of food by analyzing total coliforms, thermotolerant, Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., coagulase-positive Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus and sulfite-reducing clostridia. Total coliforms counts were > 1,100 MPN, and of < 3 a 240 MPN for thermotolerant. E. coli was isolated from four samples, and S. aureus was detected in two samples in a rate higher than the permitted one. By means of antimicrobial susceptibility testing, E. coli and S. aureus strains showed to be resistant to ampicillin and penicillin, respectively. In the parasitological analysis in raw foods, the following parasites were investigated: Entamoeba coli, Entamoeba hystolitica, Giardia duodenalis and Ascaris lumbricoides. Entamoeba coli and Ascaris lumbricoides were found in salad. The school meals offer risks to the children health; therefore, it has to improve the conditions of their preparation and to implement the Good Practices in the educational institutions.