Microbial Contamination of Fixed and Mobile Street Food Vended around the Campus of East West University in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Abstract

This study was carried out to find out the presence of common enteric bacteria, such as, Shigella, Salmonella, pathogenic E. coli and Vibrio spp. in the street vended foods around the student campus of East West University (EWU) in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The study focused on the socio-economic, behavioral characteristics and practices with street foods among the students of EWU and the street food vendors around the campus. A total of 50 street food samples were randomly collected from fixed and mobile vendors around the EWU area and tested for the presence of microorganisms following conventional microbiological processes. In order to describe the characteristics and practices of students of EWU, 225 students were randomly selected and interviewed by using a structured questionnaire. Based on the availability, 150 vendors were also interviewed by using a structured questionnaire. Among 50 food samples, 46 (92%) had bacterial contamination of which, 6 samples (12%) were confirmed to contain different species of E coli and Shigella. Four types of food samples, namely shingara, cake, butter bun were found to be contaminated with Enteroaggregative E coli (EAEC) and lemon juice was contaminated with Enterotoxigenic E coli (ETEC). Two samples- khichuri and water collected from fixed vendor were contaminated with Shigella flexneri X-variant and Shigella flexneri 2a respectively. Among 55% students who consumed street vended foods, it has been observed that more female students (68%) consumed street foods than the male students (45%). Sixty five percent students washed hands before eating food and 56% of the students (n=207) who consumed street foods washed hands after using toilet. Fifty nine percent (n=22) of the students suffered from stomach ache and vomiting after consumption of the street vended food. About 61% vendors kept food open and 12% of them sold stale food. Nineteen percent of the vendors did not remove flies while roaming and 53% stored water in open pot. Among 150 vendors 23% were illiterate, 32% had educational status below the primary level and 45% of them had education above the primary level (5th standard). Fifty-nine percent of the vendors washed their hands after coming from the toilet and 11% washed their hands with soap before preparing food. A significant relationship has been observed between the educational status of the vendors and their hand washing practice before preparing food (p= 0.0008). There was also a significant difference between the educational status and hand washing practice of the vendors after coming from toilet (p=0.029). The present study revealed that 92% of the street vended foods around an educational institution of Dhaka city had bacterial contamination. Six types of foods (12%) were found to be contaminated with Enteroaggregative E coli (EAEC) Enterotoxigenic E coli (ETEC), Shigella flexneri X-variant and Shigella flexneri 2a which could be a potential cause for food-borne diseases. Contaminated hands of food vendors can also be potential sources of pathogen transmission during the handling of the foods