Background: An important agent of food intoxication is Staphylococcus aureus, that is able to produce enterotoxins.
Aim: To detect Staphylococcus aureus contamination in cafeteria food handlers of a Chilean University.
Subjects and methods: Nose, throat, hands and nail samples from 87 food handlers were obtained for microbiological examination.
Results: Fifty seven subjects (65.5%) were carriers of Staphylococcus aureus. Enterotoxigenic Staphylococcus aureus was found in 36 subjects (41%). The most frequently found enterotoxin was type B (18 samples) followed by type D (12 samples). Men bad a higher frequency of contamination than women (83 and 57% of positive samples respectively).
Conclusions: The frequency of Staphylococcus aureus contamination among food handlers is high and should prompt personal and environmental hygienic measures.