Bacteriological Quality of Ready-to-Eat Foods Sold within Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital and Its Immediate Environs

Abstract

Objective: To compare the bacteriological quality of ready-to-eat foods being sold within the hospital premises with those being sold outside the hospital premises.

Design: Prospective cross sectional study

Setting: Urban township in a developing country

Method: 64 food samples (comprising of 12 different food types) were taken from vendors within the hospital premises and those outside the hospital premises. All food samples were collected in sterile disposable containers (Sterilin bags). Each sample was properly labeled with a number code, subject name, type of food and date of collection. Demographic data of the vendors and the sanitary nature of the vending environment were adequately noted. Culture of samples collected was performed and organisms isolated were thus identified using standard biochemical methods.

Results: The standard plate counts of 37.5% of the samples analyzed was within the satisfactory limit while 62.5% of the samples were above the acceptable limit. 42.2% of the samples analyzed had enterobacteriaceae counts within the satisfactory limit while 57.8% were above the acceptable limit. There was no significant difference between the Standard Plate Count and Enterobacteriaceae Count of foods sold within and outside the hospital thus, the quality of foods sold within the hospital and those sold outside the hospital is the same.

Conclusion: The bacterial load of ready to-eat foods sold within Korle-Bu teaching hospital and its immediate environs could pose a substantial risk to its consumers.