Microbiological contamination of environments and surfaces at commercial restaurants

• Published in: Ciência & saude coletiva Vol. 15 Suppl 1; p. 1597
• Main Authors: Coelho, Ana Iris Mendes, Milagres, Regina Célia Rodrigues Miranda, Martins, Joice de Fátima Laureano, Azeredo, Raquel Monteiro Cordeiro de, Santana, Angela Maria Campos
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Portuguese
• Published: Brazil 01-06-2010
• Subjects: Air Microbiology; Equipment Contamination; Hand - microbiology; Humans; Restaurants - standards
• ISSN: 1678-4561
• DOI: 10.1590/S1413-81232010000700071

This study was carried out to provide subsidies for sanitary actions applied to manipulators, environments and surfaces, assessing levels of microbiological contamination in three commercial restaurants (A, B and C) in Viçosa, Minas Gerais State. Microbiological analysis were performed for presumptive counting of Bacillus cereus and mesophilic aerobic bacteria on surfaces of stainless steel benches, equipments, utensils and hands of the manipulators (swab technique), and air (simple sedimentation). It was observed expressive contamination by mesophilic aerobic bacteria in the samples examined, exceeding limits proposed by the APHA (American Public Health Association). Mesophilic aerobic microorganisms were detected in 100% of air samples, with counts ranging from 4.1 x 10(1) CFU/cm(2)/week to 1.1 x 10(3) CFU/cm(2)/week. Typical colonies of B. cereus were detected in 19% of all air samples, and the presence of such colonies was observed in all restaurants in levels that reached 2.1 x 10(1) CFU/cm(2)/week. In surfaces and hands examined it was also possible to isolate typical colonies of the pathogen in all restaurants. The sanitary situation of the environments studied requires interventions to reduce risks of great magnitude, concerning the occurrence of foodborne diseases.