ABSTRACT
Objective: Hand hygiene is a milestone, cost-effective, and convenient strategy to prevent the transfer of pathogenic micro-organisms. However, housemaids operating inside a kitchen can be the source of infection. In addition, hand hygiene among housemaids working in dwellings was underexplored. This study aimed to assess the hand hygiene status and associated factors among housemaids working in communal living residences in Jimma City, Southwest Ethiopia. Methods: A total of 230 housemaids were included in this cross-sectional study. Total samples were proportionally allocated for each residence and a simple random sampling technique was applied to select the study participants. Hand hygiene status and relevant characteristics were collected through face-to-face interviews and observations. Hand swab samples were collected and tested for bacterial contaminants. Then, it was inoculated aseptically using streak-plating methods on mannitol salt agar (MSA), MacConkey agar (MCA), salmonella-shigella agar (SSA), and eosin methylene blue (EMB) agar and then incubated at 37 °C for 24 h. Data was edited, cleaned, and double-entered into Epidata version 3.1 and then exported to the statistical package for social science statistics version 26 for further analysis. Binary logistic regression was used to identify associated factors. Statistically significant was declared at P value < 0.05. Results: Two hundred twenty-five housemaids were interviewed with a response rate of 97.8 %. The results showed that the proportion of good hand hygiene status among the housemaids was only 28.0 %. Although the majority of participants reported washing their hands frequently, the prevalence of bacterial contaminants on their hands was high at 72 %. The study identified several factors associated with hand hygiene status, including the occupational status of heads of households (AOR = 0.030, 95 % CI: 0.003, 0.348; P = 0.0050), the effectiveness of the heads of household (AOR = 13.955, 95 % CI: 1.442, 13.500; P = 0.0230), and the removal of accessories during handwashing (AOR = 20.844, 95 % CI: 2.190, 9.842; P = 0.0080). Conclusion: Overall, the hand hygiene status of housemaids was found to be poor and influenced by demographics and other relevant characteristics. The study emphasizes the need for a multimodal strategy involving household heads, local and national authorities, and other stakeholders to raise awareness and advocate for hand hygiene to prevent communicable diseases in the wider community, particularly in the study area.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Bacterial pathogens continue to be a major cause of foodborne gastroenteritis in humans and remain a public health problem. Housemaids operating inside a kitchen could be the source of infection and may transmit disease-inflicting pathogens through contaminated hands. Objective: This study aimed to assess the prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility profile of bacteria isolated from the hands of housemaids in Jimma City, Ethiopia. Methods: A laboratory-based cross-sectional study was employed among 234 housemaids. Hand swab samples from the dominant hand of the study participants were collected under sterile conditions following standard operating procedures. Then, in the laboratory, the swabs were inoculated aseptically using streak-plating methods on the growth media, such as mannitol salt agar [Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci], MacConkey agar [Klebsiella species and Proteus species], salmonella-shigella agar [Salmonella species and Shigella species], and eosin methylene blue agar [Escherichia coli (E. coli)]. In addition, a set of biochemical tests was applied to examine bacterial species. Data were double-entered into EpiData version 3.1 and then exported to the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 26 for further analysis. Descriptive analyses were summarized using frequency and percentage. Results: The proportion of housemaids' hands containing one or more positive bacterial isolates was 72% (95% CI: 66.2, 77.8). The dominant bacterial isolates were Staphylococcus aureus (31.6%), Escherichia coli (21.3%), Salmonella species (1.3%), Shigella species (6.7%), Klebsiella species (23.1%) and Proteus species (14.7%). Fingernail status (AOR =15.31, 95% CI: 10.372, 22.595) and the removal of a watch, ring, and bracelet during hand washing (AOR = 20.844, 95% CI: 2.190, 9.842) were significantly associated with the prevalence of bacterial isolation. Most Staphylococcus aureus isolates were susceptible to chloramphenicol (98.6%). Escherichia coli isolates were susceptible to tetracycline (75%), ceftriaxone (79.2%), chloramphenicol (87.5%), and ceftazidime (77.1%). Eighty percent of isolated Shigella species were susceptible to chloramphenicol and gentamicin respectively. In addition, Klebsiella and Proteus species exhibited high susceptibility to chloramphenicol. However, their isolates showed resistance against a number of the tested antimicrobials. Staphylococcus aureus isolates (28.2%) were resistance to tetracycline. Moreover, One-quarter of Escherichia coli isolates were resistance to tetracycline, ceftriaxone, chloramphenicol, and ceftazidime. Whereas 46.7% and 48.5% of isolated Shigella species and Proteus species were resistance to tetracycline and ceftriaxone. Conclusion: The hands of housemaids are important potential sources of pathogenic bacteria that would result in the potential risk of foodborne diseases. Most bacteria isolates were resistant to tetracycline, ceftriaxone, and ceftazidime. Therefore, practicing good hand hygiene helps to prevent and control the spread of antimicrobial-resistant microbes.
