Microbiologic quality of fish on sale in the City of Guatermala

A sanitary microbiological survey of fresh and processed fish on sale in Guatemalan markets and supermarkets was carried out. Samples of tables, floor and freezer surfaces, and of the water, ice and liquid drippings of the different stands were also taken and analyzed. Aerobic counts exceeded 10(6)/g in 72% of the samples, and 16% had more than 40 fecal coliforms/g. Coagulase-positive Staphylococcus aureus were never higher than 100/g in fish. The bacterial counts were higher in the ice and liquid drippings