A total of 110 prawn individuals were collected from different markets at Cairo and Giza Governorates. The average counts of Aerobes, Psychrophiles, Enterobacteriaceae, Coliforms and Staphylococci were 5 x 10(3), 3 x 10(2), less than 2 x 10(2), less than 3 and 2 x 10(2) organisms per gram newly caught prawn sample, respectively. Such counts were significantly increased in samples collected from markets including raw prawn in shell, raw peeled samples and frozen samples either peeled or in shell. Arizona group, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter group, Proteus group, Providencia group A & B, Shigella group and Staphylococcus aureus could be isolated from examined samples with variable percentages. The public health significance of isolated organisms is discussed.