Investigation of salmonella carriage among workers in food production and distribution

Foodborne diseases are a major public health concern worldwide. Among the leading causative agents, Salmonella spp. is particularly significant, as it is commonly transmitted to humans through animal-derived food products. Diagnosis relies on culture methods and serological testing. Treatment typically involves third-generation cephalosporins and quinolones; however, antibiotic resistance, especially in developing countries, complicates therapeutic approaches. Therefore, access to clean water, proper hygiene practices, safe food production, and vaccination are of critical importance for prevention. Food handlers, even when asymptomatic carriers, can transmit the microorganism to food, posing an outbreak risk. Consequently, routine screening and investigation of carrier status among food workers are essential for both food safety and public health. In our study, conducted between May 2024 and May 2025, a total of 94 voluntary participants employed as subcontracted workers at Gaziantep University Şahinbey Research and Practice Hospital Refectory and the Gaziantep University Central Kitchen were included. Participants completed a questionnaire covering demographic characteristics and medical history, and both stool and blood samples were collected from each individual. Stool samples were inoculated into Selenite F broth, a selective enrichment medium for Salmonella isolation, followed by subculture onto selective-differential media such as Salmonella-Shigella (SS) agar and Xylose Lysine Deoxycholate (XLD) agar for culture examination. Suspected colonies were selected based on morphological features and confirmed through biochemical and identification tests using the BD Phoenix automated microbiology system. Blood samples were centrifuged to obtain sera, which were subsequently analyzed using the Gruber-Widal agglutination test for serological evaluation. Based on culture and serological test results, the prevalence of Salmonella carriage among the participants was determined to be 1.06%. These findings highlight that asymptomatic Salmonella carriers working in food production and distribution represent a significant public health risk due to their potential to spread the pathogen through contaminated food. The results underscore the importance of routine screening programs, regular carrier testing, and microbiological surveillance in the food sector. Furthermore, they emphasize the necessity of improving hygiene practices, closely monitoring carriers, and carefully managing antimicrobial usage. This study contributes to microbiological measures aimed at ensuring food safety and suggests that future research should focus on more detailed investigations of the microbiological and epidemiological characteristics of carriers, thereby guiding the development of comprehensive preventive health policies.