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'I'm just going to wash you down': sanitizing the vaginal examination.

AIM: This paper reports findings from an ongoing study exploring the qualitative experiences of midwives and women in relation to vaginal examination in labour, focusing on how vaginal examination is discussed and on the wash-down procedure used by some midwives. BACKGROUND: The body is a source of considerable ambivalence in sociological terms. Women's bodies, in particular, have been viewed as problematic and as a potential source of dirt and pollution. It has been suggested that vaginal examinations during labour are used, at least in part, as a ritual procedure by which healthcare professionals demonstrate that they are in control of both the labouring woman and the process of labour itself. Methods. In-depth interviews were undertaken during 2003 with six childbearing women and 10 midwives who had been involved in these women's care. Non-participant observation was also carried out of each woman's labour and birth. FINDINGS: During interviews, when discussing vaginal examination, midwives persistently used abbreviations or euphemisms as a means of distancing themselves from the realities of the procedure. Some midwives were observed washing women's genitals in a highly ritualized manner prior to vaginal examination, apparently as a strategy for establishing power differentials. CONCLUSION: Midwives commonly state that they are advocates for woman-centred care but their behaviour in relation to vaginal examination belies this and suggests that they regard women's bodies as contaminated and polluting. Healthcare students need to be taught specific communication skills to enable them to discuss vaginal examination more fully with women so that they feel less need to resort to euphemisms and abbreviations when discussing the procedure. It is also important to carry out vaginal examination in a way that is not demeaning and does not reinforce notions that women's bodies are dirty.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗

Long-term survival of pathogenic and sanitation indicator bacteria in experimental biowaste composts.

For economic, agricultural, and environmental reasons, composting is frequently used for organic waste recycling. One approach to limiting the potential risk from bacterial food-borne illnesses is to ensure that soil amendments and organic fertilizers are disinfected. However, more knowledge concerning the microbiological safety of composted substrates other than sludge and manure is necessary. Experimental in-vessel biowaste composts were used to study the survival of seeded Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serotype Enteritidis, and Escherichia coli. Four organic waste mixtures, containing various proportions of paper and cardboard, fruits and vegetables, and green waste, were composted in laboratory reactors with forced aeration. The physicochemical and microbiological parameters were monitored for 12 weeks during composting. The survival of bacteria over a 3-month period at 25 degrees C was assessed with samples collected after different experimental composting times. Strain survival was also monitored in mature sterilized composts. Nonsterile composts did not support pathogen growth, but survival of seeded pathogens was observed. Salmonella serovar Enteritidis survived in all composts, and longer survival (3 months) was observed in mature composts (8 and 12 weeks of composting). Mature biowaste composts may support long-term survival of Salmonella serovar Enteritidis during storage at room temperature. E. coli and L. monocytogenes survival was observed only in 4-week-old composts and never in older composts. Proper composting may prevent long-term survival of E. coli and L. monocytogenes. These results suggest that like composted sewage sludge or manure, domestic waste composts may support pathogen survival. Survival was not related to the physicochemical characteristics of the composts.

Escherichia coli↗

Hospital sanitation: the massive bacterial contamination of the wet mop.

Following the demonstration of massive spread of bacterial contamination throughout the hospital by the wet-mopping techniques in use, quantitative studies were undertaken to determine the source of contamination and to institute measures of control. It was found that mops, stored wet, supported bacterial growth to very high levels and could not be adequately decontaminated by chemical disinfection. Laundering and adequate drying provided effective decontamination, but build-up of bacterial counts occurred if mops were not changed daily or if disinfectant was omitted from the wash-water. Recommendations were based upon the experimental findings.

Agar↗

[Medical aspects of the environmental sanitation of workplaces in compressed air work in Japan].

Actual follow-up investigations were made for a period of 5 yr and 10 months since February 1980 on 55 places of caisson and shield work. The maximum bottom pressure in caisson work was 3.6 kg/cm2 (4.6 ATA) and that of shield work was 1.6 kg/cm2. The number of exposures of workers was 23,737 in caisson work and 75,244 in shield work. The items of geomedical measurements were temperature (degrees C), humidity, dust, illumination, noise, oxygen, carbonic acid gas and others. In compressed air work, it is most important to prevent decompression sickness (bends) from the view of occupational health. The incidence of bends has decreased in recent years because of strict control by regulations. Environmental hygiene, however, has seldom been discussed in this field and little geomedical control has been made on compressed air work. In view of this situation, we have, therefore, studied, observed, and measured the hygienic factors of this work during the past five years. This investigation is without doubt the first of its kind in Japan and the areas covered most of the regions where compressed air works have been made in the past. From these results, it can be concluded as follows: The working temperature was controlled, but humidity was too high (nearly 90%). Illumination was insufficient. Dust was a problem, but high humidity played an important role in decreasing the volume. The environment was noisy. It is therefore natural that environmental studies should be continued and hygienic consideration be further emphasized in compressed air work.

Atmospheric Pressure↗

Hand sanitizer alert.

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Anti-Infective Agents, Local↗

Effectiveness of electrolyzed water as a sanitizer for treating different surfaces.

The effectiveness of electrolyzed (EO) water at killing Enterobacter aerogenes and Staphylococcus aureus in pure culture was evaluated. One milliliter (approximately 10(9) CFU/ml) of each bacterium was subjected to 9 ml of EO water or control water (EO water containing 10% neutralizing buffer) at room temperature for 30 s. Inactivation (reduction of > 9 log10 CFU/ ml) of both pathogens occurred within 30 s after exposure to EO water containing approximately 25 or 50 mg of residual chlorine per liter. The effectiveness of EO water in reducing E. aerogenes and S. aureus on different surfaces (glass, stainless steel, glazed ceramic tile, unglazed ceramic tile, and vitreous china) was also evaluated. After immersion of the tested surfaces in EO water for 5 min without agitation, populations of E. aerogenes and S. aureus were reduced by 2.2 to 2.4 log10 CFU/ cm2 and by 1.7 to 1.9 log10 CFU/cm2, respectively, whereas washing with control water resulted in a reduction of only 0.1 to 0.3 log10 CFU/cm2. The washing of tested surfaces in EO water with agitation (50 rpm) reduced populations of viable cells on the tested surfaces to < 1 CFU/cm2. For the control water treatment with agitation, the surviving numbers of both strains on the tested surfaces were approximately 3 log10 CFU/cm2. No viable cells of either strain were observed in the EO water after treatment, regardless of agitation. However, large populations of both pathogens were recovered from control wash solution after treatment.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗