@article{ajeid2017511,
author={{Otu-Bassey, Iquo Bassey and Ewaoche, Itodo Sunday and Okon, Blessing Felix and Ibor, Usang Akedor},
title={Microbial Contamination of House Hold Refrigerators in Calabar Metropolis-Nigeria},
journal={American Journal of Epidemiology and Infectious Disease},
volume={5},
number={1},
pages={1--7},
year={2017},
url={http://pubs.sciepub.com/ajeid/5/1/1},
issn={2333-1275},
abstract={<i>B</i><i>ackground</i><i>: </i>Microorganisms are ubiquitous in nature, its presence in a particular location and condition suitable for it multiplication dictate it pathogenicity or otherwise. <i>Objective</i>: To investigate the microbiological load and the potential risk of refrigerated food and water are exposed to in Calabar metropolis. <i>Design</i>: Sterile swab sticks moistened with peptone water were used to swab the refrigerator parts of interest. The swabs were aseptically transferred to appropriate culture media and the cultures incubated at 37ˇăC for 24 hours. <i>Setting</i>: The base, shelves and inner sides of 50 randomly selected household refrigerators in Calabar Metropolis were examined for microbial pathogens presence to determine their possible role as infection reservoir. <i>Subject: </i>Bacterial and fungal isolates were identified morphologically, physiological, and biochemically while parasites were detected by direct microscopy. <i>Result:</i> In all, 100% of refrigerators sampled showed bacterial contamination, 32% showed fungal contamination, while 8% had parasitic organisms. <i>Genera </i>of bacteria isolated in descending order of frequency were: <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> 27.3%, <i>Escherichia coli</i> 20.2%, <i>Shigella </i>spp 13.0%, <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> 11.9%, <i>Aeromonas hydrophilia</i> 8.3%, <i>Salmonella typhi</i> 5.9%, <i>Klebsiella pneumonia</i> 5%, <i>Streptococcus pyogenes</i> 4.7%, and <i>Proteus mirabilis</i> 2.3%. Fungal organisms isolated were <i>Candida albicans</i> 54%, <i>Penicillium</i> spp 43.2% and <i>Aspergilus flavus</i> 2.7% while the parasites detected were <i>Entamoeba histolytica/dispar</i> 50% and <i>Ascaris lumbricoides</i> 50%. <i>Conclusion</i>: The presence of these organisms, including potential foodborne pathogens, in domestic refrigerators portends serious health implications. The need to maintain appropriate food storage and refrigerator management, and proper hand hygiene is recommended.},
doi={10.12691/ajeid-5-1-1}
publisher={Science and Education Publishing}
}