Microbiological Profile of Food Served and Related Surfaces in a Libyan General Hospital, Libya

Abstract

Combating of food borne pathogens in hospitals is a growing concern. A major aspect is the safe nutrition for patients in hospitals. It is still a hot topic concerning patients, media and politicians. In Libya it is a rising trend to inspect the safety aspects of food and surfaces in order to assure the hospital hygiene regulations. In this study, a survey of the general microbiological quality of food and surfaces in a General teaching Hospital was undertaken in Alshatii, Libya. Fifty food and forty surface samples were cultured on different kinds of selective culture media. Significant colonies were counted and identified via microscopic and biochemical examinations. We reported satisfactory levels of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter spp., Klebsiella spp. and Listeria spp. when compared with guidelines for the published microbiological quality of ready-to-eat food. No detectable levels of Salmonella spp. was recorded in our study. Unfortunately, we identified 9 out of 40 surface samples with unsatisfactory levels. Listeria spp. was isolated from eight surface samples which indicates improper hygiene, when compared with data on the general microbiological quality of surfaces. The food sampled from the General Hospital in Libya was of relatively accepted microbiological quality but the surfaces hygiene needs an improved strategy to prevent cross contamination and hence causes public health problems. This inspection acts as a hygiene alert that improves the management of hospital cleaning and it will have a positive impact on the public health of the Libyan society.