4. CONCLUSIONS:
Our results revealed high prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection in food handlers in Iran. This high prevalence is largely due to poor personal hygiene practice, poverty, lack of knowledge, insufficient environmental sanitation and inadequate health controlling services.Although the food industryworkers, food handlers and anyone who is connected with the production, handling, storage, transportation, preparation, or else, is obliged to undergo routine medical examinations including stool microscopy for intestinal parasitic infections (once every 6 months) and chest x ray for tuberculosis suspected cases (occasionally). However, it seems that they are not sufficient. It is advised that some strict rules such as obligation in filling the stool container in the lab are added. Also, if infected food handler cases are identified, immediate decisions for exclusion of the career up the resolving all symptoms or completion of further investigations should be made. Additional programs including education for changing attitude about infectious diseases requires consideration.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST: The authors declare that they do not have any conflict of interest.
ETHICS APPROVAL : No ethical approval was required as this is a review article with no original research data.