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PubMedDate not supplied

Predictors of infectious disease symptoms in inner city households.

BACKGROUND: Despite the fact that hygienic practices have been associated with reduced risk of infection for decades, the potential role of specific home hygiene and cleaning practices in reducing risk have not been explicated. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the incidence and predictors of infectious disease symptoms over a 48-week period in inner city households. METHODS: Cleaning and hygiene practices and the incidence of infectious disease symptoms were closely monitored prospectively for 48 months in 238 households. Each household was contacted by trained interviewers weekly via telephone, was visited monthly, and underwent an extensive home interview quarterly. RESULTS: The incidence of new symptoms in the month before quarterly home visits ranged from 8.9% to 12.4% for individuals and from 32% to 39.7% for households. Four factors were significantly associated with infection. Drinking only bottled water increased risk (relative risk [RR], 2.1; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2-3.7). Using hot water (RR, 0.7; 95% CI,.5-.9) and bleach (RR, 0.29; 95% CI,.23-.66) for laundry and reporting that germs were most likely to be picked up in the kitchen (RR, 0.5; 95% CI,.3-.8) were protective. No other hygiene practices, including hand washing, were associated with infection risk. CONCLUSIONS: Further studies of a potential role for bottled water in infections are warranted, as is a renewed appreciation for the potential protective role of laundry practices such as using bleach and hot water.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Cloning of a phenol oxidase gene from Acremonium murorum and its expression in Aspergillus awamori.

Fungal multicopper oxidases have many potential industrial applications, since they perform reactions under mild conditions. We isolated a phenol oxidase from the fungus Acremonium murorum var. murorum that was capable of decolorizing plant chromophores (such as anthocyanins). This enzyme is of interest in laundry-cleaning products because of its broad specificity for chromophores. We expressed an A. murorum cDNA library in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and subsequently identified enzyme-producing yeast colonies based on their ability to decolor a plant chromophore. The cDNA sequence contained an open reading frame of 1,806 bp encoding an enzyme of 602 amino acids. The phenol oxidase was overproduced by Aspergillus awamori as a fusion protein with glucoamylase, cleaved in vivo, and purified from the culture broth by hydrophobic-interaction chromatography. The phenol oxidase is active at alkaline pH (the optimum for syringaldazine is pH 9) and high temperature (optimum, 60 degrees C) and is fully stable for at least 1 h at 60 degrees C under alkaline conditions. These characteristics and the high production level of 0.6 g of phenol oxidase per liter in shake flasks, which is equimolar with the glucoamylase protein levels, make this enzyme suitable for use in processes that occur under alkaline conditions, such as laundry cleaning.

Acremonium↗
PubMed1997

Surveillance of nasal and bladder cancer to locate sources of exposure to occupational carcinogens.

OBJECTIVE: To locate sources of occupational exposure to nasal and bladder carcinogens for surveillance follow up in British Columbia, Canada. METHODS: Incident cases of nasal cancer (n = 48), bladder cancer (n = 105), and population based controls (n = 159) matched for sex and age, were interviewed about their jobs, exposures, and smoking histories. Odds ratios (ORs) were calculated for 57 occupational groups with stratified exact methods to control for age, sex, and smoking. RESULTS: Occupational groups at increased risk of nasal cancer included: textile workers (six cases, OR 7.6); miners, drillers, and blasters (six cases, OR 3.5); welders (two cases, OR 3.5); pulp and paper workers (three cases, OR 3.1); and plumbers and pipefitters (two cases, OR 3.0). Nasal cancer ORs were not increased in occupations exposed to wood dust, possibly due to low exposures in local wood industries. Strongly increased risks of bladder cancer were found for sheet metal workers (four cases, OR 5.3), miners (19 cases, OR 4.5), gardeners (six cases, OR 3.7), and hairdressers (three cases, OR 3.2). Among occupations originally considered at risk, the following had increased risks of bladder cancer: painters (four cases, OR 2.8); laundry workers (five cases, OR 2.3); chemical and petroleum workers (15 cases, OR 1.8); machinists (eight cases, OR 1.6); and textile workers (three cases, OR 1.5). CONCLUSIONS: Occupational groups with increased risks and three or more cases with similar duties were selected for surveillance follow up. For nasal cancer, these included textile workers (five were garment makers) and pulp and paper workers (three performed maintenance tasks likely to entail stainless steel welding). For bladder cancer, these included miners (12 worked underground), machinists (five worked in traditional machining), hairdressers (three had applied hair dyes), and laundry workers (three were drycleaners).

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The prediction of human skin responses by using the combined in vitro fluorescein leakage/Alamar Blue (resazurin) assay.

A range of cosmetics formulations with human patch-test data were supplied in a coded form, for the examination of the use of a combined in vitro permeability barrier assay and cell viability assay to generate, and then test, a prediction model for assessing potential human skin patch-test results. The target cells employed were of the Madin Darby canine kidney cell line, which establish tight junctions and adherens junctions able to restrict the permeability of sodium fluorescein across the barrier of the confluent cell layer. The prediction model for interpretation of the in vitro assay results included initial effects and the recovery profile over 72 hours. A set of the hand-wash, surfactant-based formulations were tested to generate the prediction model, and then six others were evaluated. The model system was then also evaluated with powder laundry detergents and hand moisturisers: their effects were predicted by the in vitro test system. The model was under-predictive for two of the ten hand-wash products. It was over-predictive for the moisturisers, (two out of six) and eight out of ten laundry powders. However, the in vivo human patch test data were variable, and 19 of the 26 predictions were correct or within 0.5 on the 0-4.0 scale used for the in vivo scores, i.e. within the same variable range reported for the repeat-test hand-wash in vivo data.

Animal Testing Alternatives↗
PubMed2005

Purification and characterization of Bacillus cereus protease suitable for detergent industry.

An extracellular alkaline protease from an alkalophilic bacterium, Bacillus cereus, was produced in a large amount by the method of extractive fermentation. The protease is thermostable, pH tolerant, and compatible with commercial laundry detergents. The protease purified and characterized in this study was found to be superior to endogenous protease already present in commercial laundry detergents. The enzyme was purified to homogeneity by ammonium sulfate precipitation, concentration by ultrafiltration, anion-exchange chromatography, and gel filtration. The purified enzyme had a specific activity of 3256.05 U/mg and was found to be a monomeric protein with a molecular mass of 28 and 31 kDa, as estimated by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and nondenaturing PAGE, respectively. Its maximum protease activity against casein was found to be at pH 10.5 and 50 degrees C. Proteolytic activity of the enzyme was detected by casein and gelatin zymography, which gave a very clear protease activity zone on gel that corresponded to the band obtained on SDS-PAGE and nondenaturing PAGE with a molecular mass of nearly 31 kDa. The purified enzyme was analyzed through matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time-of-flight-mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) and identified as a subtilisin class of protease. Specific serine protease inhibitors, suggesting the presence of serine residues at the active site, inhibited the enzyme significantly.

Bacillus cereus↗
PubMed2003

A cautionary note: survival of nymphs of two species of ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) among clothes laundered in an automatic washer.

Host-seeking ticks often remain on clothing of persons returning home from work or recreation in tick habitats, and can pose at least a temporary risk to people and pets in these homes. Laundering clothing has been one of the recommendations to reduce tick exposure. Host-seeking lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum (L.), and blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis Say, nymphs confined in polyester mesh packets, were included with laundry in cold, warm, and hot wash cycles of an automatic clothes washer. Ticks were also placed with washed clothing and subjected to drying in an automatic clothes dryer set on high heat and on air only (unheated). Most nymphs (> or = 90%) of both species survived the cold and warm washes, and 95% of A. americanum nymphs survived the hot wash. At the time of their removal from the washer, I. scapularis nymphs were clearly affected by the hot wash, but 65% were considered alive 20-24 h later. Large percentages of nymphs of both species survived hot washes in which two other detergents (a powder containing a nonchlorine bleach and a liquid) were used. All ticks were killed by the 1 h cycle at high heat in the clothes dryer, but with unheated air some nymphs of both species survived the 1 h cycle in the dryer. Given the laundering recommendations of clothing manufacturers and variation in the use automatic clothes washers, laundry washed in automatic washers should not be considered free of living ticks.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Revolutionary advances in sun-protective clothing--an essential step in eliminating skin cancer in our world.

For many years, individuals around the world have relied on sunscreen alone as their primary form of protection against ultraviolet rays (UV-R). Australia has shown that a multitactic approach to skin cancer prevention, combining sun-protective clothing with sunscreen, can be both highly effective and widely accepted by the general public. In the US, the aging baby boomer generation and rising skin cancer epidemic call for a fundamental behavioral shift toward this combination approach to sun protection. Sun-protective clothing, such as that manufactured by Coolibar and awarded the Seal of Recommendation by The Skin Cancer Foundation, offers millions of Americans the opportunity to significantly improve the quality of their lives and is an essential step in eliminating skin cancer in our world. All Coolibar clothing products carry a minimum ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) rating of 30, blocking 97% UV-R or greater. Each product in the Coolibar clothing line is individually tested and rated for its UV protection level; this process is explained in a thorough hangtag attached to the product. This tag specifies what UPF the product has received, how the UPF is figured, which testing procedures the individual product was submitted to, and if that product has received the Seal of Recommendation from The Skin Cancer Foundation. In addition to photoprotective clothing, The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends Rit Sun Guard, a photoprotective laundry additive. Rit Sun Guard washes into the clothing fibers and absorbs broadband UV-R. A single treatment of Rit Sun Guard sustains a UPF of 30 for approximately 20 launderings. The active ingredient in Rit Sun Guard is TINOSORB FD. In order to be certified by The Skin Cancer Foundation, the Coolibar clothing product must undergo extensive UPF testing to confirm the accuracy of the product labeling. Laundry additives evaluated by The Skin Cancer Foundation undergo similar tests to that of photoprotective clothing after a uniform laundering method is used to apply the product to the clothing fibers. Both of these certification processes confirm the UPF, UV-A and UV-B transmittance, and percentage blocking UV-A and UV-B. The certification process is reviewed on an annual basis.

Health Promotion↗
PubMed1992

[Proposal for the nosocomial infection control of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)].

To determine the prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in hospital environments, quantitative isolation of MRSA from environmental and human specimens was performed. It was found that as many as 6 x 10(4) colony forming units (CFU)/100cm2 of MRSA and also methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (MRCNS) were isolated from 1) 25-100% of the bed-mattresses tested in 10 out of 11 (90%) hospitals, and also 2) bed sheets for patients, floors of patient wards, laundry, bath-room, toilet and laundry storage-room. And seven and eight palms of 20 patients were contaminated with MRCNS and MRSA, respectively, and MRCNS contamination was revealed in six of medical staffs. These results indicate that hospital environments, especially the mattresses and hospital floors are highly contaminated with MRCNS and MRSA, and sanitation and cleanliness of mattresses and floors are necessary to prevent the dissemination of both MRCNS and MRSA in hospital.

Cross Infection↗
PubMed2000

The sense-of-coherence and the capability of performing daily occupations in persons with chronic pain.

OBJECTIVES: It may be helpful for occupational therapists who promote enabling occupations among persons with chronic pain, to understand the relationship between the persons feelings of meaningfulness, comprehensibility and manageability in life and their capability to perform daily occupations. AIM: The aim of this study was to describe and investigate how these concepts of person and occupational performance of 27 daily occupations in terms of "effort", "inconvenience", "avoidance", "give up", "frequency" and "satisfaction" were related to each other. DESIGN: A prospective correlative study was conducted. METHOD: A consecutive series of eighty-four patients with chronic pain completed a structured interview and responded to the self-assessment instruments Sense-of-Coherence Scale (SOC-13) and Capability of Performing Daily Occupations (CPDO). RESULTS: Weak but significant correlation (p < 0.05) were found between the SOC-13 sub-scale "manageability" and the specific occupations "physical exercise / training" (r = - 0.24), "climb stairs" (r = - 0.27) "social activity" (r= - 0.25) and "wash the laundry" (r = - 0.30), as well as between the SOC-13 sub-scale "meaningfulness" and the CPDO occupations "grocery shopping" (r = -0.22), "performing meals" (r = - 0.24), and "wash the laundry" (r = - 0.31) and the CPDO question "frequency of performing occupations" r = -0.22). The participants' mean value (mean = 58) of SOC-13 was below the other populations represented in a literature review. The mean values for CPDO (3.4-4.3) (optimal score is zero) showed that the participants perceived themselves having activity limitations concerning performance of daily occupations, and the performance area of work productive activities were experienced as more disabling. The degree to which the participants perceived themselves having a strong sense of coherence or being disabled by pain varied greatly both for the results of SOC-13 ( range 32-90 points) and CPDO (range 1.1-7.8 points). CONCLUSION: The expected significant relationship between a person's sense of coherence and the performance of daily occupations was partly verified with weak significant correlations. In clinical practice the assessment instruments are suggested to be of value in rehabilitation clinics for occupational therapists who work with people with chronic pain.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1992

Bilharzia in a small irrigation community: an assessment of water and toilet usage.

A questionnaire study was conducted in the Mushandike small scale irrigation schemes in Zimbabwe to investigate the following: 1) to establish whether field latrines are used or not; 2) to find out why people visit natural water bodies for bathing and laundry instead of using water from boreholes for these purposes; 3) to assess people's knowledge on the transmission and control of schistosomiasis. Results of the study indicated that the field latrines are utilised and that the borehole water is not preferred for bathing and laundry because of its hardness and oily nature. The results further indicated that the community was aware of schistosomiasis but their knowledge on transmission and control of the disease was limited. Possible reasons for the observations made are discussed in the paper and recommendations emanating from the study are stated.

Agriculture↗
PubMed1992

Incontinence in institutions: costs and contributing factors.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the relative independent contributions of mobility and mental function to the prevalence rate of incontinence in a long-term care hospital and to establish the baseline prevalence rate and cost of incontinence before implementation of a continence program. DESIGN: Prevalence survey. SETTING: Long-term care hospital. PARTICIPANTS: All 457 inpatients (mean age of men 73.6 years, of women 73.8 years) who met the defined criteria for degree of urinary and fecal incontinence, mobility and mental function. Of the 447 questionnaires that were returned 12 were incomplete. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Degree of urinary and fecal incontinence and costs of incontinence as measured by nursing time spent dealing with incontinent patients, laundry and incontinence supplies. RESULTS: The prevalence rate of urinary incontinence was 62%, fecal incontinence 46% and combined incontinence 44%. The mean time spent each day dealing with incontinence was 52.5 minutes per patient. The total annual cost of incontinence per patient was $9771. Mobility and mental function were independent predictors of frequency of urinary and fecal incontinence. Frequency of incontinent events was the strongest predictor of quantity of linen soiled, but immobility was the strongest predictor of nursing time spent dealing with incontinence. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence rate of urinary incontinence depends on patient characteristics and the definition of incontinence. A management approach to incontinence could lower laundry and supply costs, and improvements in mobility could reduce nursing time spent dealing with incontinence.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1988

[Evaluation of the health status of dry cleaning plant workers exposed to tetrachloroethylene].

Among 133 chemical laundries workers and 107 persons from a control group internal medical examinations together with electrocardiography record and laboratory investigation were performed. For the assessment of liver functions designations AlAT, AspAT, FA, prothrombin index, bilirubin and iron content in serum, proteinogram and thymol turbility test were prepared and carried out. No statistically remarkable differences between the group of women exposed to PER and the control group were found. In the study group of males statistically noticeable differences were related to mean values and the number of deviations connected with aminotransferases. An increased activity of these enzymes was observed in persons exposed to high instantaneous concentrations of PER. The author reflects upon the usefulness of performing biochemical investigation of the liver function during prophylactic examination of laundry workers exposed to PER.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Educating nurses to care for the incontinent patient.

Urinary incontinence among nursing home patients is a very common problem. Until quite recently, incontinence was believed to be impossible or unnecessary to treat except through the use of absorbent pads and diapers. The cost of this type of management to the facility in terms of laundry, labor, and supplies, as well as to patients' well-being, is very high. Recent data suggest that at least some incontinent nursing home patients can benefit from treatment programs that can be taught to the nurse's aide staff and that, at the very least, will reduce laundry and supply costs. The significance of an improvement in patient morale or a decrease in the incidence of complications resulting from incontinence has yet to be assessed, but should be considered. In addition, even a partially successful treatment program may be helpful to the nurses caring for these patients as the nurses' sense of hopelessness and frustration about managing incontinent patients may be reduced. Finally, an active treatment program for continence, instituted by nurses, advances the nursing care of these patients from custodial nursing care to therapeutic nursing care.

Aged↗
PubMed1987

[Use of subjective symptom measurements in evaluating the health effects of exposure of workers to neurotoxic compounds].

To evaluate early health effects in workers exposed to neurotoxic compounds, symptomatological questionnaires have been extensively applied recently. These measure subjective symptoms, i.e. indicators of the central nervous system dysfunction caused by hazards. With the symptomatological questionnaire, called the Questionnaire of Subjective Symptoms, developed by H. Hänninen et al. and adjusted to the Polish conditions, workers of dry-cleaning laundry exposed to tetrachloroethylene and workers of wet-cleaning laundry (controls) have been examined. The results have demonstrated that those exposed to tetrachloroethylene complained more frequently of neurological disturbances of lower and upper limbs, as compared to controls. When compared to Finnish workers, Polish subjects present much more complaints related to all symptoms.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

In vitro activity of readily available household materials against HIV-1: is bleach enough?

This report describes experiments assessing the effectiveness against HIV of potential disinfecting agents that are commonly available to IDU when they are sharing syringes. We exposed cell-free HIV, HIV-infected cells, and HIV-infected blood containing known quantities of HIV to household cleaning agents, alcohols, peroxide, and highly acidic materials for 1 min, in order to examine the effects of these materials on the infectivity of the HIV. Undiluted liquid laundry bleach and dilute liquid dish detergent reduced the number of culturable HIV to an undetectable level under the experimental conditions used. Diluted bleach was not completely effective. Other potential disinfecting agents, including ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, and hydrogen peroxide, were unable to disinfect high numbers of HIV-infected cells or infected blood. Liquid dish detergent warrants further study as a possible acceptable alternative to bleach. Our data provide support for recommendations to IDU that they disinfect shared syringes every time between users with full-strength liquid laundry bleach to reduce their risk of acquiring or transmitting HIV. When bleach is not available, liquid dish detergent or other available disinfecting agents such as rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or high alcohol content beverages are more effective than water at disinfecting HIV, recognizing that these materials are less effective than bleach. Although these materials are effective, they should not be viewed as a substitute for decreased sharing of injection equipment by IDU, or increased availability of sterile needles and syringes.

1-Propanol↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Occupational accidents at an Acute Care Hospital].

BACKGROUND: To obtain a better knowledge of the determining factors and circumstances giving rise to occupational accidents will foster the implementation of corrective measures. The aim of this study is that of describing the trend of occupational accidents (OA's) over the course of time and of determining the risk factors regarding workers being forced to take time off for sick leave at the "Dr. Peset" Hospital in Valencia. METHODS: Description and retrospective analysis of the occupational accidents having occurred at the "Dr. Peset" Hospital in Valencia throughout the 1992-1995 period. The trend and seasonality of the series (seasonal indexes, SI's) were estimated by deterministic methods. A logistic regression model was employed to identify the factors providing a prior indication workers being off on sick leave and to determine the probability of the occurrence thereof. RESULTS: The highest OA rates were found among the kitchen and laundry workers (10.00 OA's per 100 workers/year). The OA's involving sick leave continued to show a trend of around zero, February being the months showing the highest SI (SI = 139.8). Those processed without sick leave showed an upward trend (r2 = 0.23, p < 0.0001), May being the month involving the largest number of casualties (SI = 134.2). The probability of an accident resulting in a worker being forced to take time of for sick leave increases significantly with age, when the accident in question takes place in the afternoon/evening, if it takes place in the kitchen/laundry, and if a sprain or tendinitis is involved. CONCLUSIONS: The measures taken involving the number of casualties entailing OA's which result in temporary incapacity should revolve around the less-skilled positions and the kitchen and laundry departments.

Accidents, Occupational↗
PubMed1988

Low-temperature washing of patients' clothing; effects of detergent with disinfectant and a tunnel drier on bacterial survival.

Patients' dresses were washed at 40 degrees C using an ordinary detergent for 1 week and a novel detergent with added 'Triclosan' for the following 2 weeks. The bacterial load on the finished laundry was acceptably low using either detergent. The killing of residual bacteria on washed clothing by drying in a tunnel finisher was demonstrated. This preliminary study did not show any benefits to be gained from the addition of 'Triclosan' to detergent for the low-temperature laundering of patients' clothing.

Bacteria↗
PubMed2006

Antimicrobial disinfection effect of a laundering procedure for hospital textiles against various indicator bacteria and fungi using different substrates for simulating human excrements.

Recent studies confirm the increase of nosocomial infections and microbial resistance. One of the possible causes is infected textiles due to inappropriate laundering procedures. Most Slovenian laundries use thermal laundering procedures with high energy and water consumption to disinfect hospital textiles. In addition to this fact, there is an increasing number of hospital textiles composed of cotton/polyester blends that cannot endure high temperatures of thermal disinfection. On the other hand, decreasing the temperature of laundering procedures enhances the possibility of pathogenic microorganisms to survive the laundering procedure. In our research, we determined the antimicrobic laundering effect by simulating a common laundering procedure for hospital textiles in the laboratory washing machine at different temperatures by the use of bioindicators. Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Mycobacterium terrae, Enterobacter aerogenes, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were used for determining the antibacterial laundering effect. Candida albicans was used for determining the antifungal laundering effect. Swine blood, artificial sweat, and swine fat were used as substrates for simulating human excrements and were inoculated together with the chosen microorganisms onto cotton pieces to simulate real laundering conditions. It was found that E. faecium, S. aureus, E. aerogenes, and P. aeruginosa survived at 60 degrees C, but no microorganisms were found at 75 degrees C.

Animals↗