How did Klebsiella infect IIT-B food...

With Chinese food ruled out as the cause of food poisoning that affected around 600 students at the Indian Institute of Technology in September, Food and Drug Administration authorities are now trying to investigating how Klebsiella, the bacteria found in the students’ stool samples, infected the food.

Klebsiella is found in raw, uncooked food, such as salads, as well as in some human carriers.

“Unhygienic kitchen conditions and inappropriate food handling are the causes of bacterial infections, such as e-coli and Klebsiella, that lead to food poisoning,” say city health experts.

It was initially believed that the Chinese food served to students the previous night had led to the food poisoning. FDA had collected samples of cooked and uncooked noodles from the hostel kitchen, sodium monoglutamate (a salt used in Chinese food), tomato, chilli and schezwan sauces (from the suppliers’ stock), and water from the IIT-B campus. Primary lab reports have established that there was nothing wrong with the noodles, sodium monoglutamate; reports in the investigation of sauces and water are awaited.

“Samples of raw food materials used in Chinese dishes have been tested and are reported to be up to the standards,” said Suresh Deshmukh, assistant commissioner, food, FDA.

“The samples taken from the supplier, and the water sample testing reports are now awaited. However, we are also waiting for the IIT-B’s  report on the entire case. We have asked the authorities to provide us with information whether the canteen workers were subjected to regular medical check-ups, and if the mess kitchen was hygienic enough,” Deshmukh said.    

Dr Om Shrivastav, consultant, infections, at Jaslok and Harkisandas hospitals, said, "The said bacteria do exist in human and animal bodies, in parts like intestine and colon. While that's normal, they can lead to infection with increasing levels of their presence in a body due to external contamination. Most prominent cause for such infection is compromise over sanitation."

"Contaminated drinking water is another cause for it, especially when the water is stored in a large quantity. If the vegetables are partially cooked, or were cooked while they were already rotting, or were not cleaned properly before cooking, such bacterial infections can be caused," Shrivastav explained.

Dr Anil Ballani, consultant physician at Hinduja and Lilavati hospitals, said, "A food handler can also transfer these bacteria, if he/she is infected. Also, the vessels used for cooking can cause these infections if not cleaned properly. Raw food items are the obvious carriers of these infections as bacteria continue to exist in uncooked food items."