Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41331910›Full record

SynthesisBMC infectious diseases2025

Prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus among food handlers in Ethiopia, 2000-2024: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Yonas Erkihun, Genet Molla, Bantamlak Getachew, Yemane Eshetu, Alemu Gedefie, Mikiyas Shemelis Achame, Saleamlak Sebsibe, Agumas Shibabaw

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC infectious diseases, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Yonas ErkihunSchool of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo Tertiary Care and Teaching Hospital, Wollo University, Tertiary Care Campus, P. O. Box 1145, Dessie, Ethiopia. erkihunyonas537@gmail.com.
Genet MollaSchool of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo Tertiary Care and Teaching Hospital, Wollo University, Tertiary Care Campus, P. O. Box 1145, Dessie, Ethiopia.
Bantamlak GetachewDepartment of Virology and Molecular Biology, Amhara Public Health Institute Dessie Branch, Dessie, Ethiopia.
Yemane EshetuDepartment of Public Health, ALKAN Health Science Business Technology College, Dessie, Ethiopia.
Alemu GedefieSchool of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo Tertiary Care and Teaching Hospital, Wollo University, Tertiary Care Campus, P. O. Box 1145, Dessie, Ethiopia.
Mikiyas Shemelis AchameSchool of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo Tertiary Care and Teaching Hospital, Wollo University, Tertiary Care Campus, P. O. Box 1145, Dessie, Ethiopia.
Saleamlak SebsibeSchool of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo Tertiary Care and Teaching Hospital, Wollo University, Tertiary Care Campus, P. O. Box 1145, Dessie, Ethiopia.
Agumas ShibabawSchool of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo Tertiary Care and Teaching Hospital, Wollo University, Tertiary Care Campus, P. O. Box 1145, Dessie, Ethiopia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundStaphylococcal foodborne illness is a prevalent global foodborne disease caused by the ingestion of food contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxins. Food handlers can contain these dangerous bacteria, which can contaminate food and cause staphylococcal food poisoning. Thus, study aimed to determine the pooled prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus among food handlers in Ethiopia.

methodsThis systematic review and meta-analysis followed the PRISMA guidelines. The articles were thoroughly searched in electronic databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Epistemonikos, and Google Scholar and grey literatures for relevant entry terms or phrases. Studies published between 2000 and 2024 were included. In addition, the Joanna Briggs Institute quality appraisal tool was used to assess the quality of the included studies. Studies with a JBI quality score of ≥ 50% were included after critical appraisal. Stata version 17 software was used for statistical analysis. A random-effects model was used to calculate the overall pooled prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus among food handlers. Heterogeneity was assessed using the Cochrane Q test and I2 statistics, along with their corresponding p-value of < 0.05. To check for publication bias, we used a funnel plot and Egger’s test, and then performed a trim and fill analysis. Finally, sensitivity analysis was performed to see the impact of individual studies on the pooled effect size.

resultThe meta-analysis included 11 studies with 7,880 study participants who met the eligibility criteria. The overall pooled prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus among food handlers was 20.46% (95% CI: 12.26, 28.66). A high level of heterogeneity was observed among the studies (I² = 99.99%, p < 0.001). The publication year-based subgroup analysis showed the highest pooled prevalence of 20.8% (95% CI: 9.70, 31.9) in studies published 2019. The regional subgroup analysis revealed a significantly higher pooled prevalence of 27.7% (95% CI: 23.64, 32) in the Oromia region. The total number of Staphylococcus aureus isolates was identified as the variable responsible for the heterogeneity among the studies (p < 0.001).

conclusionStaphylococcus aureus remains a significant concern among food handlers in Ethiopia, yet comprehensive, methodologically robust studies are still lacking. Knowledge gaps persist regarding the burden and impact of related foodborne diseases. Strengthened investment in food safety, coordinated research efforts, and targeted interventions are urgently needed to improve food handling practices and reduce associated health risks.

trial registrationPROSPERO registration identification number: CRD42024601688.

Indexed as

Food HandlingStaphylococcal InfectionsStaphylococcus aureusEthiopiaFood MicrobiologyHumansPrevalenceStaphylococcal Food PoisoningEthiopiaFood handlersMeta-analysisPrevalenceStaphylococcus aureusSystematic review

Identifiers

PMID41331910
PMCPMC12790125

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.