MOLECULAR TYPING AND ANTIBIOTIC SUSCEPTIBILITY PATTERNS OF ENTEROPATHOGENIC AND SHIGATOXIN PRODUCING ESCHERICHIA COLI ISOLATED FROM FOOD HANDLERS IN THREE AREAS OF KENYA

Objectives: To determine the aetiology, epidemiology and sanitary factors of carriage of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) and Shiga-toxin producing E. coli (STEC) in food-handlers working in tourist hotels in three popular tourist destinations in Kenya. Design: Cross sectional laboratory based study. Setting: Three tourist destinations of Nairobi, Malindi and Diani in Kenya. Subjects: Food handlers who were working in hotels frequented by tourists in the three study sites. Results: Overall, during the period of April 2003 to May 2004, a total of 1399 food handlers stool samples were collected and analysed. EPEC expressing the eaeA gene and STEC expressing the stx2 gene were detected in 11/1399 (0.8%) and 2/1399 (0.1%) of the study subjects respectively. The mean age of the subjects from whom EPEC and STEC were isolated was similar (32.6 years) to those from whom no EPEC and STEC were isolated (32.5 years). Prior use of antibiotics, water source and toilet types wer