Bacteriological safety of smears of surfacesio in catering facilities and food industry in Zenica-Doboj Canton in the period 2005-2007

Aim To research bacteriological (hygienic) safety of surfaces(hands smear of staff involved in the process of work, smearof furniture used for work, smear from walls in offices) in thefacilities for production of meat and meat products (8), forproduction of milk and milk products (3), products of cakes(14), bakery and bakery products (4) sugar refinery and biscuits(1) and in objects of social sustenance in the territory of Zenica-Doboj Canton (Bosnia and Herzegovina B&H) in period2005-2007 and to point out the importance of this analysis inproviding food safety for consumers.Methods: Data from the protocol of the Laboratory for Clinicaland Sanitary Microbiology,of the Cantonal Institute for PublicHealth Zenica were used. Samples of smears were inoculatedon MacConkey and blood agar. Results were interpreted inaccordance with applicable law in B&H.Results From 5051 analyzed smears, 190 (3,/%) were notsatisfactory. The largest number of unsatisfactory smears wasnoted in Zenica, 75 (39; 47%), Visoko 49 (25.8%) and Te anj37 (19.5%). From 190 unsatisfactory smears, 57 (30%)were smears from dishes, 43 (22.6%) from furniture and worksurfaces 42 (22,1%) and 41 (21.6%) smears from hands. Themost frequently isolated was Escherichia coli, in 25 (22.6%)smears from machines, and 34 (17.2%) smears from dishes.Unsatisfactory smears were mostly found in objects of publicmaintenance, 96 (50.5%) and in objects for production ofmeat, 82 (43.2%).Conclusion Regular control (monitoring), hygienic sutabilityqualityof smears in objects and education of employees toimprove hygienic measures for the purpose of the preventionof food contamination.