Staphylococcus aureus and their Enterotoxin Genes in Fast Food and Food Handlers from Different Food Premises in Sohag City, Egypt

This work was performed to detect the existence of Staphylococcus aureus ( S.aureus ) and some of their enterotoxin genes as Sea, Seb and Sec among food handlers and fast food samples like ready to eat meat prepared by them in different fast food premises in Sohag city, Upper Egypt using bacteriological isolation of S.aureus and multiplex PCR for enterotoxin genes detection. The results illustrated that 14 (8%) out of 175 fast food samples and 23 (26.7%) out of 86 food handlers harbored S.aureus pathogen. Age, gender and education status of food handlers not correlated with S.aureus infection while their hygienic practice during food processing is significantly correlated with infection. S.aureus enterotoxin genes was detected in 19 (51.3%) out of 37 isolates and Seb is more prevalent. This study highlights on the role of food handlers in dissemination of S.aureus food poisoning to consumers through food especially heat treated meat.