Food handlers hand imprint to determine effectiveness of hand-washing

Hi all!

I was wondering whether I can have the food handlers at our facility do a finger imprint on Plate Count Agar plates in order to see what the total count on their hands is, to determine the effectiveness of hand washing? Has anyone done this on PCA plates? Can I at the same time let them do a finger print on a plate of Violet Red Bile Glucose agar to check for the possible growth of any E.coli? 

We have only recently opened our own laboratory - up until then all our tests were completed by an external laboratory. They used to supply the plates and the food handlers printed their hands directly onto the set plate. I would just like to know whether I can use PCA and VRBG agar for this? 

I would only need an estimate - not a precise quantity of each organism present on each hand.. 

Any advice would be appreciated! 

TIA :)

Anna

Hi all!

 

I was wondering whether I can have the food handlers at our facility do a finger imprint on Plate Count Agar plates in order to see what the total count on their hands is, to determine the effectiveness of hand washing? Has anyone done this on PCA plates? Can I at the same time let them do a finger print on a plate of Violet Red Bile Glucose agar to check for the possible growth of any E.coli? 

 

We have only recently opened our own laboratory - up until then all our tests were completed by an external laboratory. They used to supply the plates and the food handlers printed their hands directly onto the set plate. I would just like to know whether I can use PCA and VRBG agar for this? 

 

I would only need an estimate - not a precise quantity of each organism present on each hand.. 

 

Any advice would be appreciated! 

 

TIA :)

Anna

Hi Anna,

I presume PCA = Plate count Agar.

Re-red^^, yes you can. Some people use Petrifilm plates. This kind of approach goes back a long,long way if  you consult bacteriology texts.

Strictly speaking, it would be advisable to compare/validate results against swabbing techniques.

For (generic) E.coli etc I think it is more usual to do swabbing.

Most quantitative bacteriological Procedures are not particularly accurate. :smile:

Hi Anna,

 

I presume PCA = Plate count Agar.

 

Re-red^^, yes you can. Some people use Petrifilm plates. This kind of approach goes back a long,long way if  you consult bacteriology texts.

 

Strictly speaking, it would be advisable to compare/validate results against swabbing techniques.

 

For (generic) E.coli etc I think it is more usual to do swabbing.

 

Most quantitative bacteriological Procedures are not particularly accurate. :smile:

Thank you very much Charles! I will follow your suggestion and do both the imprint and swabbing to compare the results. :)