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PubMed2005

Factors that could motivate people to adopt safe hygienic practices in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.

BACKGROUND: Approximately 18 million South Africans do not have access to adequate sanitation. This problem is not unique to South Africa but is a challenge to many developing countries. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this qualitative study was to gain insight and understanding of factors that could motivate people to adopt safe hygienic practices. METHODS: A non-probability purposive sample of 122 participants was drawn from sanitation stakeholder organisations in the Eastern Cape Province. Of these, 74 were male and 48 were female. The mean age of the participants was 40.1 years. The 122 participants were divided into 15 focus groups, each consisting of about eight members. The focus group discussions were conducted using seven guiding questions. Responses were examined and clustered in terms of the primary focus group questions. RESULTS: Regular water supply, provision of sanitation facilities, stakeholder participation and improvement of consumer sanitation knowledge are factors which can motivate people to adopt safe hygienic practices. CONCLUSIONS: There are cultural, educational, economic, institutional, environmental and psycho-social factors that could motivate people to adopt safe hygienic practices.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Reduction of Salmonella and fecal contamination of pork during swine slaughter.

Experiments were designed to reduce Salmonella and fecal contamination of pork, using several sanitizing methods and agents. Sanitizing the hauling vehicle and holding pens with chlorine or quaternary ammonium compounds proved ineffective in reducing carcass contamination. When the eviscerator wore a plastic glove and sanitized his knife in 82-C water before using it on each carcass, contamination was reduced about 50%. Sanitizing the eviscerator's knife in 500-ppm chlorine solution adjusted to a pH of 6.0, or in 25-ppm iodine solution reduced contamination approximately 75%.

Abattoirs↗
PubMed1986

Infant mortality decline in Malaysia, 1946-1975: the roles of changes in variables and changes in the structure of relationships.

This analysis has identified several factors contributing to the dramatic decline in infant mortality since World War II in Malaysia, as well as one factor that prevented the infant mortality rate from declining even more rapidly. Our main findings are the following: On average, mothers' education more than doubled over the study period, contributing to the decline in their infants' mortality. In addition, the beneficial effect of mothers' education on infant survival appears to have become stronger over the study period. Hence, further advances in education should lead to further improvements in infants' survival prospects. Another analysis of these data (Peterson et al. 1985) found that education is somewhat more influential in affecting child mortality in low-mortality, high-income areas than in the opposite type of areas. Therefore, socioeconomic development may have complemented, instead of substituted for, the the beneficial effect of mothers' education in promoting infant and child survival in Malaysia. Improvements in water and sanitation also contributed to the infant mortality decline, especially for babies who did not breastfeed. However, unlike education, these influences have become less important over time, especially for babies who are not breastfed. Hence, further improvements in water and sanitation, a goal of Malaysia's Rural Environmental Sanitation Programme, may have smaller relative effects on infant mortality than did previous improvements. Targeting such improvements on areas where women breastfeed little or not at all, however, will increase their effectiveness in promoting infant survival. The substantial reductions in breastfeeding that have taken place since World War II have kept the infant mortality rate in Malaysia from declining as rapidly as it would have otherwise. We estimate that, in our sample, the detrimental effects on infant survival of the decline in breastfeeding have more than offset the beneficial effects of improvements in water and sanitation. Unlike some other researchers (e.g., Palloni 1981), we find that changes in fertility levels and in the timing and spacing of births have had negligible effect in explaining the decline in infant mortality within the samples we have considered. We have excluded births to older women from our analysis, however; this exclusion may have led to an understatement of the influence of changes in the age pattern of childbearing.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

The associations between feeding modes and diarrhoea among urban children in a newly developed country.

The protective effect of breastfeeding against infantile diarrhoea may be less pronounced in areas with modern water supply and sanitation facilities. This finding raises the question whether protection by breastfeeding against infantile diarrhoea in developing countries will decline with improvement in water supply and sanitation. To address this question a historical cohort study of the associations between feeding modes and diarrhoea incidence and severity in children aged 0-14 months at baseline was done in Al Ain city, United Arab Emirates. In this city in a newly developed country, modern water supply and sanitation facilities have become available to everyone during the last two decades. During three months of follow-up of 249 children, the nonbreastfed had more diarrhoea than did the partly breastfed, who in turn had more diarrhoea than did the fully breastfed. After multivariate adjustment, this dose-response effect was consistent for three measures of diarrhoeal morbidity in each child: occurrence or non-occurrence of incidence episodes, number of episodes, and total severity score. However, significant differences were seen only between the nonbreastfed and fully breastfed subgroups. These results indicate that in Al Ain, despite the universal access to modern water supply and sanitation facilities, breastfeeding plays an important role in reducing the incidence and severity of infantile diarrhoea. This observation is particularly important given the growing concern that, as an unwanted effect of 'modernisation', breastfeeding is on the decline in Al Ain and comparable populations elsewhere.

Breast Feeding↗
PubMed2004

Community health outreach program of the Chad-Cameroon petroleum development and pipeline project.

A critical appraisal has been presented of the CHOP for a large-scale energy infrastructure development project that was implemented in two of the world's poorest countries. The project is under close scrutiny from various independent monitoring groups, civil society organizations, and human rights groups. Reviewing the achievements and shortcomings permits the extraction of important lessons that will be critical for the future adoption of the CHOP in the current setting and for the implementation of additional CHOPs elsewhere in the developing world. The authors believe that the design must be flexible, efficient, and innovative so that a CHOP promptly can address pressing public health issues as they arise (eg, epidemic outbreak) and include the needs and demands of the concerned communities. An innovative feature of the current project is the high degree and mix of public-private partnerships. The project's CHOP also relies on partnerships. As elaborated elsewhere, public-private partnerships should be seen as a social experiment--they reveal promise but are not the solution for every problem. For this CHOP, the focus is on partnerships between a multinational consortium, government agencies, and international organizations. The partnerships also include civil society organizations for monitoring and evaluation and local NGOs designated for the implementation of the selected public health interventions within the CHOP. The governments and their respective health policies often form the umbrella under which the partnerships operate. With the increase in globalization, however, the importance and capacities of governments have diminished, and there is growing private-sector involvement. Private enterprise is seen as an efficient, innovative, pragmatic, and powerful means to achieve environmental and social sustainability. Experiences with the partnership configurations in the current CHOP are of importance for tackling grand challenges in global health by applying a systemic approach. Other innovations of the project in general, and the CHOP in particular, are the strong emphases on institutional-capacity building, integration, and sustainability. In countries like Chad and Cameroon, there are serious shortages of well-qualified health personnel. The CHOP described in this article provides leverage for initiating better healthcare that will reduce the high burden of disease in the developing world. Reducing mortality rates for infants and children younger than 5 years in sub-Saharan Africa requires massive scaling-up of malaria-control interventions (eg, large-scale distribution of ITNs to protect millions of African children), thereby approaching the Abuja targets (see Armstrong Schellenberg et al). The local NGOs that took a lead within the framework of the CHOP in the distribution of ITNs and accompanying health education messages can extend these activities to communities living outside the vicinity of the project area. Serious shortcomings of the current CHOP, consistently identified by the external monitoring groups, include the lack of a regional health plan, cumulative impact assessment, and provision of clean water and sanitation outside the narrowly defined project area. This point is of central importance, particularly for Chad, where access to clean water and improved sanitation facilities is low. Another limitation of the current CHOP is the insufficient amount of significance addressed to tuberculosis and the apparent lack of concerted control efforts against HIV infection, AIDS, and tuberculosis. These criticisms, however, must be balanced against the lack of clarity in international discourse about the proper extent of responsibility of the corporate sector for dealing with the health problems of countries in which they do business. In an elegant analysis, the environmental risk factor "unsafe water, sanitation and hygiene" was shown to be one of the major contributors to loss of healthy life, particularly in the developing world. Provision of clean water and sanitation is a key factor for sustainable control of schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminths. Reduction of helminth infections might have a beneficial effect on the HIV and AIDS pandemic. The question still remains: What is, or should be, the scope and limits of responsibility of the corporate sector in solving these problems? There is a critical need for the monitoring and evaluation of the long-term impact of a CHOP that develops in parallel with a large development project, emphasizing the broadest possible determinants of health and well-being. To become operational, it requires the establishment and running of a longitudinal demographic surveillance system in the area and in adjacent areas that are unlikely to be affected by the project. This approach, coupled with regular household surveys for in-depth appraisal of health-seeking and asset indices, is the most promising source of data for impact measurement of health, poverty, and equity-related issues. It will facilitate subtle monitoring and surveillance activities, fostering a truly systemic approach by inclusion of all stake holders on the basis of the existing but constantly evolving system.

Cameroon↗
PubMed2004

Microbial profiles of commercial, vacuum-packaged, fresh pork of normal or short storage life.

The microbial ecology of fresh vacuum-packed pork cuts during storage at -1.5 degrees C for up to 45 days was examined to characterize rates of microbial growth and pH changes in commercially prepared products of normal storage quality. Pork loins in commercial distribution with odour defects were also studied to determine a possible cause of the defects and avoid future problems. In addition, microbial profiles of pork cuts from two plants were compared, after storage for 25 days at -1.5 degrees C, to identify possible reasons for differences in the storage life of product from the plants. The effects of a change in sanitation procedures on the microbial populations of products stored for 25 days were also studied. With normal product, microbial growth in different packages progressed at different rates, reflecting differences in initial levels of bacterial contamination. All samples in the study reached 8 weeks without apparent organoleptic change and samples carried 5.8+/-1.2 log bacteria cm(-2) (mean+/-S.D.). The flora of loins with the odour defect were predominately lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and carnobacteria, but they contained large fractions of Enterobacteriaceae <35 days after packaging. Aeromonas spp. and Shewanella spp. were likely responsible for the sulfide-putrid smell of these spoiled products, but species of Enterobacteriaceae and lactic acid bacteria could have contributed to spoilage. Comparison of microbial groups present in 16 other cuts, half from each of two commercial plants, which were stored for 25 days at -1.5 degrees C, showed that larger fractions of Enterobacteriaceae were present in samples from the plant having difficulty achieving the desired storage life. Additional bacterial samples from 12 cuts supplied by the latter plant obtained after adoption of an acid sanitizer step in the plant cleaning regimen, and also stored for 25 days at -1.5 degrees C, yielded few Enterobacteriaceae, Aeromonas or Shewanella. Use of an acid sanitizer in plant cleaning may be a means of controlling alkali-tolerant bacteria such as Aeromonas or Shewanella which can contaminate pork cuts and spoil vacuum-packaged product. The fraction of Enterobacteriaceae in bacteria populations on fresh pork stored for 25 days at -1.5 degrees C may be a useful indicator of the effectiveness of plant sanitation.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

The effect of hand hygiene on illness rate among students in university residence halls.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have indicated a connection between hand sanitization and infection control in numerous settings such as extended care facilities, schools, and hospitals. The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of both a hand-hygiene message campaign and the use of an alcohol gel hand sanitizer in decreasing the incidence of upper-respiratory illness among students living in university residence halls. METHOD: This study involved a total of 430 students recruited from 4 residence halls during the fall semester at the University of Colorado at the Boulder campus. Dormitories were paired into control and product groups. In the product groups, alcohol gel hand-sanitizer dispensers were installed in every room, bathroom, and dining hall. The data were statistically analyzed for the differences between product and control groups in reported symptoms, illness rates, and absenteeism from classes. RESULTS: The overall increase in hand-hygiene behavior and reduction in symptoms, illness rates, and absenteeism between the product group and control group was statistically significant. Reductions in upper respiratory-illness symptoms ranged from 14.8% to 39.9%. Total improvement in illness rate was 20%. The product group had 43% less missed school/work days. CONCLUSION: Hand-hygiene practices were improved with increased frequency of handwashing through increasing awareness of the importance of hand hygiene, and the use of alcohol gel hand sanitizer in university dormitories. This resulted in fewer upper respiratory-illness symptoms, lower illness rates, and lower absenteeism.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Postmilking teat antisepsis.

An effort was made to present the historical development of postmilking teat sanitizers, to discuss advantages and limitations of postmilking teat sanitization relative to specific mastitis pathogens, regulatory requirements, and the generic types of teat sanitizers. Methodologies used to evaluate the potential of teat sanitizers in reducing incidence of new IMI were discussed. Efficacy data from numerous controlled studies were discussed briefly. Teat-dip manufacturers advertise differences in efficacy values that were obtained under controlled research conditions. We are led to believe that relatively small differences in efficacy should prompt the use of one product over another. These efficacy differences have little comparative value, because the products, in most instances, were studied independently and the commercial extrapolations leave much to be desired for factual purposes. Management practices on individual dairy farms have more effect on reduction of rate of infections than do small differences in product efficacy. Also, some companies advertise about effective, in vitro germicidal activity. Such data do not relate to reduction in rate of udder infections and should not be considered evidence of efficacy in prevention of mastitis. A startling realization should become evident from this review; a paucity of information is available on some vital parameters relative to prevention of IMI. Many important areas of mastitis control related to postmilking teat antisepsis need an increased research commitment. Some of these areas include: effects of temperature on germicidal activity of teat dips; effects of climatic conditions on teat microflora; epidemiology of IMI with environmental pathogens; relationship between teat skin condition and incidence of IMI; and alternative control methods to reduce incidence of IMI. This question is asked often: "What is the best teat dip?" In my opinion, the best teat dip is the one that is dripping from teats when the cow leaves the parlor. In the words, most of the products sold today effectively prevent IMI when used properly.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Coping with hygiene in South Africa, a water scarce country.

The burden of infectious diseases may be reduced by adopting effective infection control measures. Some of these are dependent on the provision of adequate and safe water supplies for maintenance of basic standards of personal, domestic and healthcare hygiene. Consequences of scarce, and sometimes unsafe, waters supplies in South Africa are highlighted with reference to healthcare-associated infections, community acquired infectious intestinal diseases and domestic practices as infection sources. Availability of water in more than 67% of South African municipal hospitals and primary health care facilities (delivered by water tanker in 12.5% of satellite clinics, 5% from river or dam sources, 12.4% relying on rainwater) does not necessarily guarantee that it's quality is safe for utilisation. In the Northern Province and Mpumalanga, water needs to be purified prior to usage in 14.4 and 33% of satellite clinics respectively. Simple, low maintenance and low-cost interventions to maximise use and safety of limited water resources may be implemented: micro-organism (S. dysenteriae) inactivation by direct UV-exposure in sunlight abundant environments, water purification by filtration mechanisms and making use of iron pots in the community for pasteurisation, decontamination and boiling procedures. Education is paramount in promoting healthy domestic food handling practices, changing cultural perceptions of hygiene, hand-washing technique and mechanisms of domestic environmental decontamination. Water provision cannot be separated from other inter-related factors such as sanitation. Although the present government has taken initiatives to reduce the number of people not having access to water by 50% in 2002, provision of sanitation has been slower (>38% inadequate sanitation in 2002). Adoption of integrated environmental management approaches in conjunction with community participation (WASH Campaign--2002), by the government, aims to address the sanitation problems.

Communicable Disease Control↗
PubMed1997

A Study to Determine Susceptibility to Hepatitis A of Travelers from South Africa.

Hepatitis A is an important cause of acute hepatitis in travelers to developing countries. In 1991, 33 million persons living in industrialized countries traveled to developing countries where hepatitis A is highly endemic (World Tourism Organization, unpublished data, 1993). Reports indicate that 40-50% of cases of hepatitis A infection in the United Kingdom,1 Switzerland2 and Sweden3 are associated with recent international travel. The disease is usually benign, but the severity increases with age.4 Because the disease is enterically transmitted, occurrence is related to water quality and level of sanitation. In developing countries, with poor water quality and sanitation, especially in the tropics where hepatitis A is endemic, exposure is virtually universal before the age of 10 years.4 In developed countries with good food and water hygiene, the rate of exposure to hepatitis A in children is low. The rate of seropositivity increases slowly during early adulthood and reaches moderate levels during late adulthood.5 Studies have demonstrated the higher prevalence among people who live in poor, overcrowded conditions.6 Travelers going from low incidence countries to endemic areas are particularly at risk for acquiring hepatitis A, especially if they stay for extended periods.7 The risk that Danish travelers to North Africa would acquire hepatitis A was estimated to be 3.5 per 10,000, and this population accounted for at least 20% of all cases of hepatitis in Denmark. Similarly, Germans traveling or living in tropical countries have a 40 times higher risk of acquiring hepatitis than do groups living at home.8 The pattern in South Africans ranges from minimal exposure to hepatitis A in childhood in populations with good water quality and sanitation (mainly white), to high exposure in those exposed to poor water quality and sanitation in childhood (mainly black). Hepatitis A vaccine has been found to be effective in reducing the incidence of infection in travelers. After the introduction of hepatitis A vaccine into Switzerland in 1992, there has been a reduction by 15% in the cases of imported hepatitis A.9 Hepatitis A vaccine should be offered to South African travelers to high risk areas.10,11 However for the vaccine to be the most cost-effective, it would be important to identify groups of travelers who would benefit from empiric vaccination as opposed to other groups who should undergo screening prior to vaccination. This study was undertaken to establish the seroprevalence of hepatitis A in the South African traveler and to identify groups of travelers that should be vaccinated.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1968

Bacteriological survey of the frozen prepared foods industry. IV. Frozen breaded fish.

During sanitation-inspections of 23 breaded-fish processors, 573 finished product units and 604 line samples were collected and analyzed bacteriologically. Data for finished product units processed on the same data are presented in groups; most of the groups consisted of 10 units. Groups of frozen, raw-breaded fish produced under good and poor conditions of sanitation were studied. No more than 20% of the units in each group produced under good conditions of sanitation were positive for Escherichia coli or coagulase-positive staphylococci. Groups of frozen, fried-breaded fish produced under good and poor sanitary conditions were also studied. No more than 10% of the units in each good-sanitation group were positive for E. coli or coagulase-positive staphylococci. However, approximately 30% of the groups processed under poor sanitary conditions also did not exceed these viable bacterial counts because of the lethal effect of the terminal fry to which the product is subjected. It was found that line samples collected from the processing lines reflected the sanitary conditions of the plant and provided bacteriological support for inspectional evidence of plant insanitation.

Escherichia coli↗
PubMed2005

Experiments with mathematical models to simulate hepatitis A population dynamics under different levels of endemicity.

Heterogeneous access to sanitation services is a characteristic of communities in Brazil. This heterogeneity leads to different patterns of hepatitis A endemicity: areas with low infection rates have higher probability of outbreaks, and areas with higher infection rates have high prevalence and low risk of outbreaks. Here we develop a mathematical model to study the effect of variable exposure to infection on the epidemiological dynamics of hepatitis A. Differential equations were used to simulate population dynamics and were numerically solved using the software Stella. The model uses parameters from serological surveys in the Greater Metropolitan Rio de Janeiro, in areas with different sanitation conditions. Computer simulation experiments show that the range of infection rates observed in these communities are characteristic of high and low levels of hepatitis A endemicity. We also found that the functional relationship between sanitation and exposure to infection is an important component of the model. The analysis of the public health impact of partial sanitation requires a better understanding of this relationship.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Mesophilic-thermophilic-mesophilic anaerobic digestion of liquid dairy cattle manure.

The potential of a mesophilic-thermophilic-mesophilic anaerobic digestion system was investigated with respect to improvement of both digestion and sanitation efficiencies during treatment of liquid cattle manure. The pilot plant produced a high methane yield from liquid dairy cattle manure of 0.24 m3 (kg VSfed)(-1) Considering the low system loading rate of 1.4-1.5 kg VS (m3 d)(-1), digestion efficiency compared to conventional processes did not appear improved. The minimum guaranteed retention time in the tubular thermophilic reactor was increased compared to a continuously stirred tank reactor. Levels of intestinal enterococci in raw liquid manure as determined with cultivation methods were reduced by 2.5 -3 log units to a level of around 10(2) cfu/mL. This sanitizing effect was achieved both during mesophilic-thermophilic-mesophilic and thermophilic-mesophilic treatment, provided the thermophilic digester was operated at 53-55 degrees C. A change in feeding interval from 1 h to 4 h did not significantly alter methane yield and sanitation efficiency. It was proposed that a two-stage, thermophilic-mesophilic anaerobic digestion system would be able to achieve the same sanitizing effect and equal or better digestion efficiency at lower costs.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of maximizing a travel medicine clinic's prevention strategies.

BACKGROUND: Even among travelers who undergo evaluation in travel medicine clinics, illnesses develop despite the emphasis placed on prevention. It is possible that travel-associated disease rates may be modified by maximizing access to care and augmenting educational methods of disease prevention. Use of alternative preventive measures such as alcohol hand gel sanitizers may also alter illnesses among travelers. METHODS: We assessed medical outcomes in a travel population cared for in the setting of free vaccinations, medications, and travel medicine consultation, in which personal preventive measures were presented in numerous formats by a physician specializing in infectious diseases. An initial demographic questionnaire was administered at the time of travel consultation. A post-travel telephone interview conducted 2 weeks after return from travel evaluated illness while abroad, illness upon return, and adherence to travel recommendations. An assessment was also performed regarding the utility of an alcohol hand gel sanitizer. RESULTS: One hundred fifty-five travelers were evaluated (primarily older, well-educated US-born travelers, on vacation with family or coworkers). Travelers filled their prescriptions 98% of the time; 77% reported adherence to antimalarial chemoprophylaxis. Sixty-four percent of travelers developed illness abroad, and 20% developed illness upon return. The most frequent complaints were diarrhea and upper respiratory illness. Ten percent of travelers altered their itinerary owing to illness. The use of alcohol hand gel sanitizers did not appear to impact the development of diarrhea or respiratory illnesses. CONCLUSION: In this small group of travelers, access to free consultation, vaccinations, and medications along with presentation of personal protective measures in various formats did not seem to influence the development of illnesses among travelers. Although not rigorously analyzed, alcohol hand gel sanitizers did not seem to alter diarrhea or respiratory tract illness rates. These data highlight the need for new or more effective methods to prevent illness among travelers.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Evaluation of efficacy of four commercial enzyme-based cleaners of ultrafiltration systems.

Use of UF and RO in the dairy industry is rapidly expanding. Because the dairy industry demands high levels of cleanliness, this new technology requires close evaluation to assure adherence to these standards. Efficacy of four commercial enzyme-based cleaners (pH 7.0 to 8.4) in UF systems was determined by microbiological evaluation and permeate flux restoration. The UF system containing two polysulfone UF membranes in parallel, was soiled by recycling 380 L of sweet whey (40 degrees C) for 2.0 h followed by concentrating whey for .5 h. The cleaning cycle consisted of acid cleaner (.5 h, 40 degrees C), followed by enzyme cleaner (10.0 h, 40 degrees C), and rinsing (2.0 h, 40 degrees C). A chlorine sanitizer was circulated (5 min, 40 degrees C) and the unit containing sanitizing solution left idle overnight. Flux was determined and swabs and rinse water samples were taken immediately after soiling, after cleaning, and the next morning to check sanitizing. The four enzyme-based cleaners were unsatisfactory when microbiological criteria were considered. Loss of sanitizer strength and problems with yeast and especially mold growth over time also indicated lack of effective cleaning. Flux, however, was restored easily and did not correlate with efficacy of cleaning based on numbers of microorganisms remaining.

Dairying↗
PubMed1994

Quaternary ammonium compounds in milk: detection by reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography and their effect on starter growth.

A reverse-phase HPLC method is described that permits detection of quaternary ammonium sanitizers in milk. The commercial mixture of quaternary ammonium sanitizer used, n-alkyl (50% C14, 40% C12, and 10% C16) dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride, was extracted from raw and homogenized milks by the Mojonnier milk fat extraction protocol, selectively eluted from the reverse-phase column in the presence of organic solvent and ion-pairing agent, and then analyzed by diode array detection at 217 and 280 nm. Quaternary ammonium sanitizer concentrations in augmented milk samples in the range of 1.0 to 60 micrograms/ml were analyzed with high precision as indicated by a small variance around the mean. Starter culture strains currently in use for manufacture of various fermented milk products available in the Department of Microbiology Culture Collection were examined for their sensitivity to quaternary ammonium sanitizer. All strains were greatly inhibited by as little as 20 micrograms/ml in milk; some were inhibited by only 10 micrograms/ml.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The impact of a health campaign on hand hygiene and upper respiratory illness among college students living in residence halls.

Hand hygiene is a key element in preventing the transmission of cold and flu viruses. The authors conducted an experimental-control design study in 4 campus residence halls to determine whether a message campaign about hand hygiene and the availability of gel hand sanitizer could decrease cold and flu illness and school and work absenteeism. Their findings indicate that students who were exposed to the message campaign and provided with gel hand sanitizer increased their knowledge about the potential health benefits of hand washing and sanitizer use; they reported higher rates of hand washing and using sanitizer than did the control group. These students also experienced fewer cold and flu illnesses during the study than those in the control group and missed fewer class or work engagements because of colds or flu. Conducting a health promotion campaign in residence halls may therefore help prevent colds and flu and decrease absenteeism on university campuses.

Absenteeism↗
PubMed2003

Effects of different disinfection treatments on the natural microbiota of lettuce.

In this study, water and eight sanitizing solutions (vinegar at 6, 25, and 50%; acetic acid at 2 and 4%; peracetic acid at 80 ppm, sodium hypochlorite at 200 ppm, and sodium dichloroisocyanurate at 200 ppm) were compared in terms of their effectiveness against the natural microbiota of lettuce. All of the samples were kept in contact with the sanitizing solutions for 15 min, and the effectiveness of a sanitizing agent was evaluated on the basis of the number of decimal reductions of the total aerobic mesophilic count, the mold and yeast count, the total coliform count, and the Escherichia coli count. The average initial levels of these organisms in the samples were 6.94 log10 CFU/g for aerobic mesophilic microorganisms, 5.62 log10 CFU/g for molds and yeasts, and 3.25 log10 CFU/g for total coliforms. Of 10 samples analyzed, only 4 contained E. coli, and the average initial level of this microorganism in these 4 samples was 1.64 log10 CFU/g. Salmonella was not detected in any of the samples tested. The decimal reductions of the populations of aerobic mesophilic microorganisms, molds and yeasts, total coliforms, and E. coli were 0.78, 0.87, 0.82, and >0.14 log10 CFU/g, respectively, in water; 2.89, >3.41, >2.21, and >0.26 log10 CFU/g, respectively, in 50% vinegar; 2.42, >3.20, >1.99, and >0.26 log10 CFU/g, respectively, in 25% vinegar; 1.83, 2.57, 1.58, and >0.26 log10 CFU/g, respectively, in 6% vinegar; 3.91, >3.58, >2.25, and >0.26 log10 CFU/g, respectively, in 4% acetic acid; 3.37, >3.53, >2.25, and >0.26 log10 CFU/g, respectively, in 2% acetic acid; 1.85, 2.32, 1.44, and >0.20 log10 CFU/g, respectively, in 80 ppm of peracetic acid; 2.63, 2.75, 1.91, and >0.26 log10 CFU/g, respectively, in 200 ppm of sodium hypochlorite; and 3.23, >3.08, >1.95, and >0.26 log10 CFU/g, respectively, in 200 ppm of sodium dichloroisocyanurate. Statistical analysis of the results showed that the effectiveness levels for all of the sanitizing agents tested were equivalent to or higher than that for sodium hypochlorite at 200 ppm.

Bacteria↗