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Background. The article discusses the problem of the impact of epidemic diseases on ethnogenesis. As an ancient agricultural ethnic group in contact with nomadic and Mediterranean populations, the Adyghe were formed during periods of frequent epidemics of dangerous diseases caused by the process of animal domestication and subsequent impact of anthropogenic factors. The devastating effect of smallpox and measles pandemics was felt following the establishment of intensive trade exchange during the 2nd century CE by the Roman and the Han empires. The first plague pandemic (beginning with the “Justinianic Plague”, 542–543) mostly affected the Balkans and the Eastern Mediterranean. The second plague pandemic, the so-called “Black Death” (1346–1353), which appeared in the center of the Mongol Empire, quickly spread via caravan routes across most of Eurasia. The scale of the epidemic was influenced by the pathogenic complex that had developed by the 14th century, which included humans, the bacterial pathogenic agent itself, and its carriers (large rodents especially black rats, fleas). Factors such as famine caused by overpopulation, low standards of personal and public hygiene, the prevalence of wooden buildings in cities and towns, the fur trade, etc., also had contributory effects. Objectives. The study set out to identify the natural and the socio-cultural factors that influenced the spread of the plague and the smallpox epidemics in the North-West Caucasus. Methods. The data on which this study is based are formed from collections of narrative sources (Russian, Arabic-Persian, European), archaeological and historical-anthropological works, medical and genetic studies (electronic platforms: eLIBRARY.RU, Academia.edu, CyberLeninka, J-STAGE [Japan Science Technology Information Aggregator, Electronic]). Research methods: historical and comparative, on which basis a comparative analysis of the impact of the plague pandemic of the mid-14th century centering on contact between on nomadic and sedentary ethnic groups (Mongols and Russians, Mongols and Circassians) was carried out; the individualizing comparison method, which was used to identify the specific means by which the Circassian ethnic group overcame the Black Death pandemic; the systems analysis method, on which basis the roles of pathogenic complex and anthropogenic factors in the course of epidemics were compared. Results. The results of the analysis show that the population of the North-West Caucasus were affected by the Black Death plague of the mid-14th century to a significantly lesser extent than the urban centers of the Golden Horde, Rus’ and Europe. The serendipitous failure of the pathogenic complex in the former region was due to the following natural and anthropogenic factors: (1) the North-West Caucasus (more precisely, the entire area to the west of the Teberda River) was naturally bereft of effective carriers of the plague bacillus (marmots, gophers, etc.); (2) Matrega and Copa, the two contemporaneous Circassian towns serving as ports for the shipment of grain and other agricultural products, were located on the periphery of the Adyghe settlement area; (3) the dispersed, farmstead way of life among the estuaries and the complex network of peninsulas of the Kuban Delta, mountains and forests of the NWC contributed to the rapid adoption of quarantine measures; (4) a reliable vitamin-rich nutrition system (sturgeon and their caviar, goat meat and cheese, fruit, honey, etc.); (5) a well-developed system of hygiene and disease prevention (smallpox, malaria), whose existence was retrospectively established based on sources from the 17th–19th centuries. Conclusion. The plague pandemic that took place within the unified space of Mongol imperial communications had a huge impact on the historical fate of the Adyghe ethnic group, which was manifested in their paradoxical numerical growth against the backdrop of general depopulation. Against the backdrop of frequent epidemics, Adyghe developed strict and quite effective rules for preserving life and health, covering disease prevention, personal and public hygiene. Some particularly impressive practices, if not created by Adyghe folk medicine, then preserved there and later transmitted to Ottoman Turkey and Western Europe, was manifested in the original practice of smallpox inoculation.

Abstract Introduction Safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) are crucial to human health. Reducing inequalities and ensuring universal access to WASH are essential to achieving the agenda of sustainable development. We aimed to measure access to WASH among ethnic minority populations in Bangladesh and understand the situation and factors affecting WASH practices among them. Additionally, we reviewed policy related to WASH to highlight the inequality faced by ethnic minority populations. Methodology We utilized data from the multiple indicator cluster survey-2019. We used the chi-square test for bivariate analysis and multilevel mixed-effect logistic regression analyses to identify the effect of ethnicity on WASH in Bangladesh after controlling selected covariates. Furthermore, we systematically reviewed Bangladesh’s WASH-related policies and programs. Findings While 98.5% of Bengalis had access to basic drinking water services, the percentage is 60.6% for the ethnic minority population. For improved sanitation facilities not shared with others, the difference between Bengali and ethnic populations was 22.3% (64.6% vs. 42.3%). On the other hand, 75% of the Bengali population had a handwashing facility with water and soap, and 50% of the ethnic population had them. Ethnicity appeared to be a statistically significant predictor of every component of WASH. Compared to Bengali, the ethnic population had 87%, 45%, 31%, and 45% less access to water (aOR = 0.13, p ≤ 0.001), sanitation (aOR = 0.55, p ≤ 0.001), and handwashing (aOR = 0.69, p ≤ 0.05), and WASH facilities aOR = 0.55, p ≤ 0.001), respectively. Among the policies of Bangladesh, only one identified action for WASH rights of ethnic minorities. Conclusion The government should identify the issues of WASH among ethnic minorities and represent them adequately in policies to achieve the aim of ‘leaving none behind’ of sustainable development goals.

Background: Mulyorejo Primary Health Center (PHC) ranks 12th in Surabaya for diarrhea morbidity in toddlers, and there was one case of under-five deaths due to diarrhea in 2020. Purpose: This study aims to analyze hygiene as a risk factor for diarrhea in toddlers at Mulyorejo PHC, Surabaya. Methods: This study was conducted with a case-control design from December 2022 to October 2023. The case population was all toddlers aged 12-59 months at Mulyorejo PHC who had diarrhea at least in the last month. The control population consisted of toddlers aged 12-59 months living in the Mulyorejo PHC working area who had not experienced diarrhea for at least one month. The sample size amounted to 114, with a ratio of 1 1, using a simple random sampling technique. The independent variables were handwashing with soap (HWWS), food hygiene practices, latrine ownership, healthy latrines, feces disposal, and access to drinking water. Data were collected using questionnaires and observation. Chi-Square Test and Multiple Logistics Regression analyzed data. Results: HWWS (p=0.001), food sanitation (p=0.061), latrine ownership (p=0.032), and proper disposal of toddler feces (p=0.024) had a significant association with the incidence of diarrhea in toddlers at Mulyorejo PHC. Conclusion: Only the HWWS variable determines the incidence of diarrhea in toddlers at Mulyorejo PHC. Good handwashing habits with soap can prevent the occurrence of diarrhea in toddlers.

Abstract Objective In this pilot study, we verified safe practices for breast milk expression, storage, and duration, based on bacteriological results. Results We collected breast milk samples from three healthy lactating volunteers and analyzed the bacterial flora and changes in the viable bacterial counts (including those of Staphylococcus) of the samples. Although no consistent change could be observed in the abundance of a particular bacterial group in samples expressed under hygienic control conditions, viable bacterial counts were higher in self-expressed milk than in milk expressed under hygienic control conditions. In conclusion, increased hygiene awareness is vital during breast milk expression and storage.

Abstract Background Environmental bacteria in animal healthcare facilities may constitute a risk for healthcare-associated infections (HAI). Knowledge of the bacterial microflora composition and factors influencing the environmental bacterial load can support tailored interventions to lower the risk for HAI. The aims of this study were to: (1) quantify and identify environmental bacteria in one operating room (OR) and one ultrasound room (UR) in a small animal hospital, (2) compare the bacterial load to threshold values suggested for use in human healthcare facilities, (3) characterise the genetic relationship between selected bacterial species to assess clonal dissemination, and (4) investigate factors associated with bacterial load during surgery. Settle plates were used for passive air sampling and dip slides for surface sampling. Bacteria were identified by Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption—Time Of Flight. Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined by broth microdilution. Single nucleotide polymorphism-analysis was performed to identify genetically related isolates. Linear regression was performed to analyse associations between observed explanatory factors and bacterial load. Results The bacterial load on settle plates and dip slides were low both in the OR and the UR, most of the samples were below threshold values suggested for use in human healthcare facilities. All settle plates sampled during surgery were below the threshold values suggested for use in human clean surgical procedures. Staphylococcus spp. and Micrococcus spp. were the dominating species. There was no indication of clonal relationship among the sequenced isolates. Bacteria carrying genes conveying resistance to disinfectants were revealed. Air change and compliance with hygiene routines were sufficient in the OR. No other factors possibly associated with the bacterial load were identified. Conclusions This study presents a generally low bacterial load in the studied OR and UR, indicating a low risk of transmission of infectious agents from the clinical environment. The results show that it is possible to achieve bacterial loads below threshold values suggested for use in human healthcare facilities in ORs in small animal hospitals and thus posing a reduced risk of HAI. Bacteria carrying genes conveying resistance to disinfectants indicates that resistant bacteria can persist in the clinical environment, with increased risk for HAI.

Objective: This mixed-methods study aims to develop and validate a comprehensive hygiene tool from a One Health perspective to document the assessment of hygiene at the human-animal interface. Methods: This mixed-methods study consisted of two components: a narrative review of the development of tool, followed by validation. The tool development was conducted in two phases. Phase 1 was a literature review, while phase 2 focused on the development and validation. Results: Tool version 1 consisted of 37 questions to assess personal hygiene practices among 16 households with livestock. Face validity, content validity, and multi-rater kappa scores were used to validate tool version 1. The questions with kappa score exceeding 0.74 were retained for further test. A total of 29 questions were obtained and incorporated into tool version 2, which was subsequently employed to evaluate the personal hygiene practices among 62 households with stock. The median total scores for 16 households and 62 households were 10.5 (range: 6-16) and 16 (range: 10-22), respectively. Conclusions: Many studies have assessed hygiene practices among livestock farmers, yet none used a validated assessment tool. Thus, this validated tool will facilitate the measurement of hygiene in human-animal interactions.

The study investigated the effects of housing conditions and temperature-humidity index (THI) during the dry period on total bacteria counts of bedding material, animal cleanliness, and teat bacterial contamination on 212 cows from three farms. Additionally, milk yield, quality, total somatic cells, and leucocyte fractions were evaluated in the subsequent lactation on a subgroup of 119 cows. The results showed a relationship between persistent high THI, teat bacterial contamination, and pathogens on teat skin. Somatic cell count (SCC) in milk at the beginning of the next lactation was not affected by THI during the dry period. Multiple correlation analysis revealed a relationship among high milk SCC, high percentage of neutrophils, high bacterial count of bedding during the dry period, and high milk production at dry-off. The study confirms that critical environmental conditions, such as high THI and poor bedding hygiene, during the dry period, can affect teat bacterial contamination and increase the risks for high SCC in the next lactation. High milk production at dry-off may be another risk factor.

Background: Age group of 10–19 years has been designated as the adolescence period. This period decides future health and nutritional status. Girls are future mothers. Adolescents constitute 25% of the global population. Most of these populations are from developing countries. Objective: To study health status, menstrual hygiene practices, and anthropometric correlations among minority school girls. Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study was carried out among 112 girls of age 11–18 years from a minority school. Socio-demographic information, complete general, and systemic examination as well as questions related to personal hygiene practices and menstrual hygiene practices were taken. Height, weight, and blood pressure were recorded as per the standard protocol. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Results: The prevalence of undernutrition was very high, i.e. 57.1%. The prevalence of refractive errors was 20.5%. Regarding personal hygiene practices, most of the girls were seen to follow good practices. Hand hygiene was present in 97.3% for washing hands before eating and among 98.2% for washing hands with soap and water after defecation. Regarding menstrual hygiene practices, only one girl told that she used the old cloth during menstruation and two girls disposed the pads improperly. Significant correlation was seen between age and BMI; systolic blood pressure (SBP) and BMI; diastolic blood pressure and BMI; and duration of stay in the hostel and SBP. Age was correlated with the height and BMI. When we compared mean height, weight, and BMI across age categories, we found that mean height was significantly more in higher age. Mean BMI was significantly lesser in higher age group. However, mean weight was almost similar. Conclusion: The prevalence of malnutrition was high. As the age increased, BMI decreased indicating that the given nutrition is not sufficient for their growing age. Hence, there is a need to give additional food supplementation for proper growth and nutrition. Awareness on personal and menstrual hygiene was very good.

SARS-Cov-2 is a new virus that causes respiratory diseases that can cause respiratory system disorders, acute pneumonia, and death. The COVID-19 endemic continues to show positive things towards the endemic. The step to prevent COVID-19 is to convey information to the public regarding the prevention of COVID-19. The importance of hygiene in food handlers so that safe food is served is the focus of the implementation of Community Service activities. Hygiene implementation behavior is supported by nutritional knowledge, attitudes or behavior of the handler starting from the preparation, cleaning, processing, transportation to serving to consumers. Booklets as a health education communication medium can increase the average knowledge and nutritional attitudes of the handler towards the implementation of institutional food hygiene. Community service through a community partnership program was carried out through counseling and simulations using booklet media in Batu Merah Village as an effort to implement food handler hygiene during the Covid-19 endemic period. The counseling participants were food handlers at the Batu Merah Village Institutional Food Site, totaling 50 people. This activity adds insight into the thinking of participants regarding the application of hygiene, and through simulations the handlers can realize hygiene practices and be applied every day at food service institutions.

Abstract Background The safety of milk production in terms of foodborne infections is a worldwide issue, particularly in developing countries where production is often unhygienic. A cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2018 to August 2019 in the Meta District of Eastern Hararghe Zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia. We aim to assess milk hygiene practices among smallholder dairy farmers, estimate the prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus in raw cow milk and swabs, assess associated risk factors, and the antimicrobial susceptibility test of S. aureus isolates. Face-to-face interviews with 30 respondents randomly selected from smallholder dairy farmers were used to assess the potential risk factors for S. aureus contaminations in milk. A total of 177 samples were examined using standard microbiological testing. The disc diffusion technique was also employed to assess the antibiotic susceptibility of the isolates. The data was analyzed using STATA® version 14.0 statistical software. Results According to the milk hygiene assessment, 80% of respondents did not wash cow udder before milking, did not use detergent to clean milk containers, and did not keep milk refrigerated before consumption or sale, while 63.3% of milk consumers ingested raw milk. They had never heard of staphylococci foodborne disease. Likewise, the overall prevalence of S. aureus was 12.42% (95%CI: 8.32–18.98). The prevalence of S. aureus in udder milk, equipment swabs, and milkers’ hands was 18.8%, 26.7%, and 30%, respectively. The prevalence of S. aureus in milk is significantly associated with age, and mastitis history (p

Context: Water is a basic human right essential to all for sustainable development. Sanitation is one of the determinants of quality of life and the human development index. Drinking unsafe water impairs health through illnesses such as diarrhoea, and untreated excreta contaminates ground waters and surface waters used for drinking, bathing and household purposes. Aims: To assess the existing facilities and practices related to drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene among household members in the rural population of Tamil Nadu and to assess whether accessibility and availability of safe drinking water and adequate sanitation under sustainable development goal 6 is being achieved in the rural population of Tamil Nadu. Methodology: This community-based cross-sectional study was carried out among 200 households in the rural field practice area of the Medical College and Hospital, Thiruvallur district, Tamil Nadu. The participants were interviewed using a predesigned semi-structured questionnaire on their existing water, sanitation, and hand washing facilities and practices Results: Our study observed that 71.5% of households had piped water supply into their dwellings, 82% were using sanitary latrines and 28% had closed drainage for draining wastewater. Twenty-eight percent were using soap and water for hand-washing before food, and 82.5% were doing hand-washing with soap after using the toilet. In our study, the association between sanitary practices and education, occupation and socioeconomic status was statistically significant Conclusions: Our study emphasized the need for strengthening health education and behaviour change communication regarding sanitation and hand hygiene practices.

Skin, the largest organ in the human body, presents the largest possible area for colonization by microorganisms. The aspects of the interaction between microbiota and the host cannot be omitted during procedures in a beauty studio. Professional cosmetologists should consider their work’s impact on skin biodiversity and know the probable consequences. This review reviewed the current state of the art on skin microbiota with a focus on the connection between body area, microbiological biodiversity and the outcome of cooperation between the host and microorganisms. The role of the skin microbiota in maintaining the host’s homeostasis was also summarized.

Abstract This study used data from various international databases to track the progress of SDG 6 target indicators in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) region between 2015 and 2020. Findings showed that although minimal positive progress was realized in the evaluation period, more than half of SSA residents had no access to safe drinking water services, improved sanitation facilities, hygiene services and safe wastewater treatment. The computed SDG 6 profile index conformed with the trend of indicators as progress of the region to the goal’s realization was rated as medium–low. The trend was further compounded by limited data, preferential access to water and sanitation services to the urban rich and poor monitoring of progress. The analysis also noted that despite these challenges the region was putting concerted efforts to promote transboundary cooperation in water management and had 6% of water stressed resources. The study recommended on the need to revamp water data collection and monitoring efforts to enable decision-making and planning on management actions, use of technology to treat and reuse wastewater as well as device new sources of water, enhanced participation of communities in water projects and improved water use efficiency to steer progress towards SDG 6 realization in SSA region.

Objectives: In the protocol for cleaning and sterilizing dental handpieces (DHs), water retention within the instrument poses a challenge and may compromise the sterilization process. This study aimed to assess the reliability and reproducibility of the sterilization protocol regarding the dryness of DHs. It evaluated the presence of residual water in these instruments after various conditions of treatment through multiple dryness tests. Methods: This comparative study examined the dryness of seven different DHs following five washing–disinfection and/or sterilization protocols. Dabbing tests, shaking by hand, or compressed air tests through DHs and over absorbent paper were employed to ascertain the thorough dryness of DHs after treatment. As soon as the first sign of water appeared on the absorbent paper, the DH was deemed to be not dry. Results: Upon completion of the washing–disinfection protocol without sterilization, five out of seven DHs were deemed dry using the dabbing test, yet none were fully dry when subjected to shaking or compressed air. However, in the four protocols incorporating final sterilization, all DHs were dry according to the three drying tests. Conclusion: This study underscores the essential role of the sterilization step in eliminating residual water from DHs, thereby ensuring optimal conditions for effective sterilization in terms of dryness. Furthermore, the study recommends against relying solely on the dabbing drying test, emphasizing the importance of shaking or using compressed air to confirm instrument dryness.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a prevalent gram-negative pathogenic bacterium ubiquitous in natural environment. Aquatic environment of wastewater serves as reservoirs of this bacteria and their wide resistance phenomenon to a number of antibiotics is frequently increasing. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of P. aeruginosa in 10 industrial waste water and 10 tannery waste water samples of whole Dhaka and 65% (13/20) water samples were found positive for P. aeruginosa which was confirmed by both biochemical test & BiologTM Microbial Identification System. Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method was applied for antimicrobial susceptibility testing and isolates showed resistance to most of the commercial antibiotics except neomycin, gentamycin, streptomycin, ciprofloxacin and nalidixic acid, hence confirmed the multidrug resistance (MDR) of P. aeruginosa in wastewater which is one of the life-threatening public health issues all over the world causing ineffectiveness of several antibiotics. So, it is recommended to make sure surface water or food samples not to be contaminated by this antibiotic resistant P. aeruginosa that might be transferred to animal and human. In these circumstances, not only the hygiene practice is the first and foremost prerequisite but also management practices with effective wastewater disposal system can also be a part of awareness. Additionally, appropriate and logical use of antibiotics must be applied to reduce the emergence of multidrug pathogens to environment.

Dairy products provide essential nutrients when consumed and they also create rural employment. A small dairy can help a family maintain their livelihood. The objective of this study was to evaluate the microbiological quality of raw goat milk obtained during the milking-storage process using Good Hygiene Practices. The study was carried in northern Mexico, which is characterized by a desert climate. The experiment was carried in four herds, six samplings per herd with a total of 302 goats. Samples of milk extracted directly from the udder, milk extracted from the milking bucket and milk extracted from the storage bucket were analyzed. In addition, samples were taken from the milker’s hands. The data were analyzed using ANOVA and the statistical difference with the Tuky test (p

The objective of this study was to investigate the perceptions and attitudes of consumers toward food service safety and hygiene when purchasing ready-to-eat food. Data were collected at three time points: before (T0) and during the COVID-19 pandemic (T1 and T2). Among the 333 participants, 45.9% reported fear of contracting COVID-19 when purchasing off-site meals, and 78.4% for on-site meals in T1, compared to 21.0 and 52.0% in T2, respectively (p

Diarrhea is a major cause of morbidity and mortality, particularly in West Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia, due to certain factors. Therefore, this study aims to examine the influence of climate, economic status, demographic, water, sanitation, and hygiene factors on diarrhea. The study procedures were carried out using an ecological design that focused on the characteristics of the sample population. The unit of analysis was districts/cities, where data on diarrhea cases from 2017–2020 were used, along with other variables in the same period. The dependent variable was the number of diarrhea cases per month, while the independent variables included average temperature, economic status, population density, access to water, sanitation, and hygiene. A total of 480 records were analyzed descriptively using path analysis to determine the relationships between the variables. The results showed that average temperature had a significant direct relationship with diarrhea (b = 0.127, 95% CI = 0.027 – 0.227, p = 0.013;) and indirectly through unsafe drinking water-limited sanitation (b = 0.088, 95% CI = 0.001 – 0.175, p = 0.047). Economic status and population density were also reported to have a significant indirect effect, while unsafe drinking water-limited sanitation and limited hygiene had a direct influence (b = 0.166, 95% CI = 0.07 – 0.263, p = 0.001 and b = 0.124, 95% CI = 0.019 – 0.229, p = 0.021). In addition, the model also showed that water sanitation had a positive and significant correlation with hygiene. In summary, diarrhea was directly influenced by the average local temperature, access to water, sanitation, and hygiene. Indirectly, the average temperature played a significant role along with population density and economic status.

Infancyis an important period for childhood growth. Infant parenting includes general knowledge from infant’s mother and their family. The Tolotang community has their own way of parenting their infants, according to the values in their faith. The Sanro will give the people information about many things in life. This study aimed to know the way the Tolotang Community take care of their infants.

Diarrhea is a common manifestation of gastroenteritis, affecting both children and adults globally. Subsequently, gastroenteritis is particularly prevalent in developing countries such as Indonesia and Taiwan. This research aimed to analyze the incidence of diarrhea based on socio-demographics and personal hygiene in Indonesia and Taiwan. The method used in this research was a quantitative design with a cross-sectional approach, and the data collection involved interviews with adults, using a structured questionnaire. The primary goal of the analysis was to examine the bivariate relationships between each variable and the incidence of diarrhea, and the logistic regression test was applied for the multivariate test. A result from Taiwan respondents, the statistical tests showed significant relationships with age with a p-value of 0.009, education with a p-value =0.010, and personal hygiene with a p-value =0.010. Factors that influenced diarrhea in Indonesia were education with a p-value =0.038 and income with a p-value =0.08. In summary, several socio-demographics and personal hygiene practices played a significant role in the incidence of diarrhea. The differences in results obtained from Taiwan and Indonesia were attributed to differing respondent characteristics, emphasizing the importance of promoting clean and healthy behaviors, including handwashing with soap before eating and maintaining a clean environment, as effective measures to prevent diarrhea.

Introduction: Access to affordable and improved Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) facilities is essential for people's daily lives, and it is the primary goal of Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG-6). However, achieving this goal is a significant challenge for many countries, including India. The aim of this study is to assess the progress made towards achieving SDG-6 targets in Indian districts, states, and Union Territories (UTs) and to identify clusters by measuring spatial inequality of WASH coverage in India. Aim and objective: The primary objective of this study is to measure the progress made towards achieving the SDG-6 targets for WASH facilities in Indian districts, states, and UTs. To fulfill this objective, the study used the household data of the National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS-5) conducted from 2019 to 21. Data and methods: The study used the household data of NFHS-5, which is a nationally representative survey that provides information on household and individual-level characteristics related to health and nutrition. The study identified the variables associated with WASH and created a composite index to measure WASH coverage separately and combined. The study used Gini coefficient to show WASH inequality, and Moran's statistics were used to show spatial dependency. Result: The study found that the inequality of improved water coverage sources in Indian districts was high. Western and northeastern districts need to catch up in terms of achieving the SDG-6 targets. The value of the Gini coefficient (0.29) indicates that inequality in sanitation coverage is also high. All states have reached close to SDG-6 achievement in hygiene indicators. Goa, Sikkim, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, and Lakshadweep are close to the overall WASH coverage achievements of SDG-6. However, Jharkhand, Orissa, Tripura, Assam, and Rajasthan are behind in meeting the goal of SDG-6. Conclusion: The study suggests that more government initiatives and investments are needed to increase the availability, accessibility, and affordability of WASH facilities to improve WASH conditions in western and northeastern Indian districts. The localization or bottom-up approach by giving responsibility to rural and urban local bodies can also help enforce the achievement of SDG-6. The findings of this study can be used to guide policymakers in developing targeted interventions to improve WASH conditions and reduce inequality in India.

Humans may become accidental dead-end hosts for a series of zoonotic foodborne parasites, of which Toxoplasma gondii, Echinococcus spp., Toxocara spp., and Trichinella spiralis are of major public health interest, due to their potential pathological implications. The aims of the study were to evaluate the exposure to these pathogens in north-western Romania, and to investigate their potential association to risk factors. From June 2022 to January 2024, 554 patients admitted to a tertiary hospital in north-western Romania were screened for the presence of IgG antibodies against T. gondii, Echinococcus spp., Toxocara canis, and T. spiralis by ELISA, and potential risks were assessed using a questionnaire. Overall, 225 samples (40.6%) were positive for at least one pathogen. The highest seroprevalence for IgG was found for T. gondii (33.9%), followed by Echinococcus spp. (9.1%), T. spiralis (2.9%), and T. canis (1.1%). For T. spiralis, raw meat consumption was associated with positivity. For T. gondii, increased age, rural environment, contact with cats, consumption of unwashed fruits/vegetables and drinking water from unverified sources were significantly associated to seropositivity. The present study provides new insights into the epidemiological status of zoonotic foodborne parasite in Romania, underlining the need to increase awareness on the importance of water, sanitation and food habits in relation with this neglected pathology.

Abstsract: Unsheltered individuals have limited access to restroom facilities. With this, many unsheltered individuals are forced to urinate, defecate, and engage in other hygiene practices outdoors. They may also lack access to necessary hygiene toiletries or wait to urinate or defecate until they are able to gain access to a facility. These challenges can lead to health issues, like urinary tract infections (UTIs), diarrhea, rashes, etc. The study objective was to understand the relationship between lack of access to basic hygiene facilities and health effects among unsheltered individuals. A verbal survey (English and Spanish) was used to explore the relationship between hygiene and unsheltered status. In Fall 2022, a researcher accompanied the homeless outreach team from El Rio Health, a Federally Qualified Health Center in Tucson, Arizona to verbally consent and recruit participants. Thirty consenting unsheltered adults ranging in ages from 29 to 68 years old participated in the study. Access to water was the greatest reported hygiene barrier, followed by access to soap, concerns for privacy, and concerns for safety. Eleven of thirty participants experienced a UTI at least once since becoming unsheltered and nine of thirty experienced a yeast infection at least once, with female participants having a statistically significant (p < 0.05) higher rate of occurrence than male participants. In addition, 19/30 of participants experienced a rash at least once and 17/30 of participants experienced diarrhea at least once. However, 20/30 of participants did not seek medical care for their health-related issues. Low healthcare utilization when there is a high need for care highlights the importance of community outreach and care for those experiencing homelessness. Next steps include replicating the project on a larger scale to determine generalizability.

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are considered to be one of the biggest health problems as they continue to be an important cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. They cannot be completely prevented, but their incidence can be significantly limited. Preventive action is the most important measure in this case. Due to the frequent interaction between healthcare professionals and patients, the crucial importance of hand hygiene is therefore emphasised. Adherence to good disinfection and hand washing practices remains around 40%, which can be improved by using a variety of nudge tools to promote desired hygienic behaviour. We conducted an open observation of employees and visitors with participation. The aim of this study was to determine the actual status of hand disinfection in a selected healthcare facility amongst doctors, registered nurses, medical technicians, cleaners, and visitors or parents of children; then, we selected and introduced three nudge tools of desired hygiene behaviour and analysed their effectiveness; finally, we provided suggestions for the use of nudge tools of desired hygiene behaviour with the aim of influencing doctors, registered nurses, medical technicians, cleaners, and visitors or parents of children so that they disinfect their hands properly. The actual state of hand disinfection was determined on the basis of observation without introducing any changes; then, we separately introduced three nudge tools, posters with an inscription and picture, the scent of citrus, and flashing lights. The obtained results were analysed with the help of the SpeedyAudit Lite application, and the effectiveness of each nudge tool and the adequacy of hand disinfection by categories of people were compared. In general, posters with a picture and an inscription contributed the most to more consistent disinfection of employees’ hands, while the scent of citrus and flashing lights contributed slightly less.

Muhammad Nadeem,1 Mumtaz Anwar,2 Shahid Adil,3 Wajid Syed,4 Mahmood Basil A Al-Rawi,5 Ayesha Iqbal6,7 1Department of Economics, University of Education, Lahore, Vehari Campus, Pakistan; 2School of Economics, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan; 3Punjab Resource Improvement and Digital Effectiveness (PRIDE) Project, Planning and Development Board, Government of the Punjab, Punjab, Pakistan; 4Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 5Department of Optometry, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 6Division of Pharmacy Practice and Policy, School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham UK; 7Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, CanadaCorrespondence: Muhammad Nadeem, Email muhammad.nadeem@ue.edu.pkBackground: Access to safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities is crucial for health and human rights, impacting nutrition and weight.Methods: Multiple Indicators Cluster Survey (MICS) 2017– 18 has been used in this study to examine the association between WASH and underweight, alongside other factors. Analysis included descriptive statistics, association tests, logistic regression, and population-attributable fractions (PAF).Results: According to results child were 1.8, 1.1 and 1.04 times less likely to be underweight if they had access to improved source of drinking water, improved sanitation and hygiene facilities respectively. The likelihood of child being underweight reduces by 1.4, 1.89, 2.01 and 2.55 times if the household wealth status increases from poorest to second, middle, fourth and richest wealth quintiles, respectively. As the mothers’ education level increases from no schooling to primary, middle, secondary, and higher level, the possibility of child being underweight reduces by 1.22, 1.24, 1.60 and 2.01 times, respectively. Moreover, the likelihood of a child being underweight decreases as the education level of the household head improves. If maternal age is less than 20 or more than 35 years the likelihood of the child being underweight is increased by 1.074 and 1.121 times, respectively. A child is 1.1 times more likely to be underweight if birth spacing is less than 2 years. A child’s risk of being underweight decreases by 1.1 times if they have not experienced diarrhea. A child who has never been breastfed has 1.3 times higher risk of being underweight. The results of Population Attributable Fraction (PAF) indicate that holding the other factors constant, approximately 36.46% burden of underweight was preventable by access to improved drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene practices.Conclusion: Comprehensive strategy is needed that focuses on improving access to safe drinking water, sanitation infrastructure, and hygiene behaviors.Keywords: water, sanitation, hygiene, children, underweight, Pakistan, WASH

Heroda Gebru,1 Negussie Deyessa,2 Girmay Medhin,3 Helmut Kloos4 1Ethiopian Institute of Water Resources, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; 2School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; 3Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; 4Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USACorrespondence: Heroda Gebru, Email herodagebru13@gail.comBackground: The recurrence of intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) can lead to different problems that can be transferred from generation to generation. Sanitation and hygienic practices have vital role in the parasitic reinfection. In poor hygienic and sanitation condition children may live in a continuous cycle of infection and reinfection.Objective: To assess childhood IP reinfection and its association with sanitation and hygienic practice in eastern Ethiopia.Methods: A population-based case-control design was used in this study. Data were collected from 75 reinfected cases and 147 unmatched controls. Fecal specimens were observed for parasites using direct smear and formol ether techniques. Epi-Info and SPSS (the statistical package for social science) were used for data entry and analysis, respectively. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify significant associations (P< 0.05) between variables.Results: The overall IP reinfection rate within 24 weeks after treatment was 33.8% (75/222), with a 95% CI=27.7%– 40.5%. The frequency of intestinal protozoa was 18%, and for helminths was 15.8%. Children who swam in a polluted water had 3.7 times greater odds of IP reinfection than children who did not swim (P =0 .01, 95% CI: 1.4– 10.0). Children who regularly bathed in streams and children who bathed both at home and in streams were found to have 12.6 times and 5.8 times higher odds of IP reinfection than children who bathed regularly at home (P=0.002, 95% CI:2.5– 64.8) and (P = 0.042, 95% CI:1.1– 31.3), respectively. Children in households that owned domestic animals had 4.5 times higher odds of IP reinfection than the reference group (P = 0.013, 95% CI: 1.3– 12.5).Conclusion: IP reinfection rates were significantly associated with habits of swimming in a polluted water, places of bathing, and ownership of domestic animals. Therefore, efforts should be made considering such factors to minimize IP reinfection in the area.Keywords: Ethiopia, hygiene, reinfection, sanitation

Background and Aim: In India, among adolescent girls, the problem associated with menstrual hygiene management (MHM) has a deep impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Improvement in knowledge and menstrual hygiene practices may lead to enhancement in HRQoL. Therefore, the aim of the study was to enhance the HRQoL of adolescent school girls by improvement in menstrual hygiene knowledge and practices. Materials and Methods: The present study was an interventional, cross-sectional, questionnaire study conducted among adolescent school-going girls. The study was conducted among randomly selected five government secondary schools in Ajmer city and was conducted among adolescent girls of 7th–10th Class with the age group of 14–16 years. A total of 538 adolescent girls were surveyed in the pretest, and 503 was the sample size in the posttest with an attrition of 6.5%. Moreover, after the pretest, a workshop was conducted to educate adolescent girls about MHM. Results: A majority of the study participants (328 [61%]) had poor HRQoL after the pretest, which was improved to 195 (39%) of the study participants with good HRQoL after 3 months of the workshop during the posttest. The mean general health scores ([15.35 ± 0.38]) after 3 months of the workshop were significantly (P = 0.01*) higher among the study participants compared to the pretest scores ([10.93 ± 1.63]). Conclusion: From the above results, it has been concluded that there has been a significant improvement in knowledge, practice, and HRQoL among adolescent school-going girls of age 14–16 years when assessed after 3 months of the workshop on MHM.

Introduction: Uncertainty exists in the drinking water, sanitation, hygiene, and health conditions due to mosquitoes and flies across India. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the availability of drinking water, sanitation, hygiene, and health in India. Methods: We used secondary analysis data on 95,548 household members from the National Sample Survey, which included 113,822 homes and 555,351 persons across India between June 2017 and 2018. Results: About 36.4% of household members stated that tube wells or boreholes outside the property at a distance of less than 0.2 km were their main source of drinking water. More than 87% of respondents said that the water they drank was free of impurities, and 55.1% said that it had not been treated. About 45.7% of respondents stated that there were no bathrooms in the dwellings. More than 50% of the time, according to the respondents, garbage was not collected. A flea or mosquito problem was reported by about 97% of households. Around 97% of households reported fevers that were caused by a disease. Conclusion: In India, poor access to drinking water, sanitary facilities, good hygiene, and healthcare existed. The results will support the next visionary programs to increase living standards in the country.

Water bottles for everyday usage are a typical addition to people’s life and offer a practical way to stay hydrated. Even though safe and clean water is preferred for consumption, the water bottle or container used to drink water was never considered to be cleaned. Here, we examined the adhering microbial populations in water bottles composed of stainless steel (SS) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). A total of 30 water bottles—15 PET and 15 SS—were gathered from different users. To identify and quantify the adhering microbial populations, microbial swabs from the inside surface of the bottles were collected and later cultivated on certain growth media. Overall the microbial load of PET is significantly higher than the SS water bottles of 68.8 + 19.1 cfu/ml and 35.4 + 8 cfu/ml respectively at initial sampling (P = 0.0027). We also evaluated the efficiency of various cleaning procedures in eliminating adherent bacteria populations. The cleaning strategy significantly reduced the microbial load (P

The Relationship Between Women's Anxiety and Hygiene Habits in the COVID-19 Pandemic

Background and objective: Infection control refers to the measures taken in hospitals and other healthcare facilities to limit and control infections. The primary purpose of infection control is to reduce infection rates. Inpatients must have a perception and attitude about healthcare-associated infections. The aim of this study was to determine the perceptions and attitudes of inpatients and their related factors regarding infection control measures in Erbil public hospitals. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out in Erbil public hospitals from September 1st, 2021, to September 1st, 2022). It included 400 patients admitted for different reasons in Rizgary Teaching Hospital, Erbil Teaching Hospital, and Maternity Teaching Hospital. Data were collected during the period (December 15th, 2021) to (March 29th, 2022). Data was gathered through a direct interview using the questionnaire format. Results: The highest percentage of inpatients were females (67.8%), and 60.3% had sufficient income. A high number of inpatients (43.5%) were admitted to the Rizgary teaching hospital. More than half (52.5%) of the inpatients believed they would get an infection if admitted to the hospital. Concerning being aware of healthcare-associated infections, only 16.0% of inpatients were aware of healthcare-associated infections. Most (83.0%) of the inpatients thought that hand washing reduced the chance of infection. Conclusion: The present study indicated that the perceptions and attitudes of inpatients regarding infection control issues in hospitals are low; accordingly, more efforts are needed to empower patients about infection control measures in hospitals.

Background: Refill Drinking Water (AMIU) is one of the alternatives used by the Indonesian people in meeting their drinking water needs. However, there are still AMIUs that do not meet the total coliform standard. Purpose: This study aimed to analyze the relationship between DAMIU operators' knowledge and hygiene measures on the bacteriological quality of AMIU in Banyuwangi Sub-district, Banyuwangi, East Java Province, Indonesia. Methods: This was an observational study with a cross-sectional approach. Water samples from 33 DAMIUs in Banyuwangi sub-district were tested for total coliforms. DAMIU operators were interviewed using a structured questionnaire regarding knowledge and hygiene. Data were analyzed using Chi-square test. Results: Twelve out of 33 (36.4%) AMIUs did not meet the total coliform standard. Thirty-one (93.9%) DAMIU operators had excellent knowledge, and 23 (69.7%) had good personal hygiene. There was a significant association between operator hygiene and total coliform quality of AMIU (p=0.016; OR=8.4). Conclusion: Operator hygiene is an important factor in meeting the bacteriological quality standards of AMIU. It is recommended to make efforts to raise awareness of DAMIU operators to always apply hygiene while working.

The results of many studies indicate that there is a cause-effect relationship between active tobacco smoking and risks of various diseases, lung and bronchial cancer (C34) and coronary heart disease (I25) being the most common among them. These diseases are one of the main causes of death in working age. The aim of this study was to perform hygienic assessment of risks of lung and bronchial cancer and coronary heart disease due to active tobacco smoking. Healthcare workers employed at the Omsk ambulance station were chosen as the research object. Additional risk levels were calculated for lung and bronchial cancer and coronary heart disease in accordance with the methodical guidelines MR 2.1.10.0033-11 Assessment of Risks Associated with Impacts of Lifestyle Factors on Public Health. Smoking was a health risk factor for 27.5 % of emergency medical services workers, including 42.5 % of men and 21.3 % of women. Sixty-six point seven percent of men aged between 31 and 40 years smoked. Prevalence of smoking among the females in the sample did not depend on age. The risk analysis revealed that smokers, equally men and women (p > 0.1) were the most likely to have lung and bronchial cancer and coronary heart disease. The corresponding median levels of additional risk equaled 1.45E-05 and 9.0E-06. The proportion of people with unacceptable levels of additional risks of the analyzed diseases (> 1.4E-04) equaled 43.3 and 53.3 % respectively among people older than 40 years. Likelihood of lung and bronchial cancer and coronary heart disease statistically significantly depends on the intensity of smoking.

Aim: The study was conducted to evaluate the genital hygiene behaviors and orientations habits of female secondary school students in the adolescent period. Methods: The study was conducted in a descriptive and correlational design between February and June 2022 to determine. The study population consisted of 355 female students studying in all high schools affiliated with the Ministry of National Education in Vize district of Kırklareli province in Turkiye. It aimed to reach the entire population without determining the sample size. As a result, 194 female students who volunteered to participate in the study were included in the sample. In data collection, the "Personal Information Form" and "Genital Hygiene Behavior Scale" were applied using the face-to-face interview method. Results: It was found that the mean age of the students was 15.74±1.1, the majority of them lived with their parents, more than half of them (67.5%) didn’t receive information about genital care and hygiene, almost all of them (92.3%) used materials for cleaning the genital area, their genital hygiene behaviors were positive, and they thought that they were given inadequate education about hygiene at school or in classes. It was determined that the genital hygiene behaviors and menstrual hygiene of the students living with only a mother or father were more positive, and the use of materials for genital hygiene was higher in the students living in the city center and district compared to the students living in the village. Conclusion: As a result, it was observed that the mother's education level, family income level, and the person living with her positively affected general hygiene and menstrual hygiene habits. Keywords: Adolescent, hygiene, genital hygiene, behavior, nursing

The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that food handlers play a significant role in the maintenance of food safety from food production to storage. This study aims to assess the implementation of WHO five keys to safer food in the food trucks in Jeddah city. This study was an observational study. A total of 103 registered and licensed food trucks in Jeddah were selected using the opportunity sampling method. The WHO’s five keys to safer food questionnaire was used by the researchers to inspect and evaluate the hygiene status of food trucks. A chi-square test was used to assess the association between the demographic characteristics of food truck handlers and the implementation of the variables used to evaluate WHO’s five keys to safer food in their food trucks. P value

Aim: Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) by veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) during refractory cardiac arrest presents significant medical and psychological challenges for healthcare providers. Beyond managing cardiac arrest and preparing for potential coronary angiography, the ECMO circuit must be assembled and primed under strictly sterile conditions, contributing to additional psychological stress and potential delays in ECMO cannulation. This pragmatic study thought to evaluate whether pre-assembled and pre-primed ECMO circuits (pre-primed group) maintain sterility over a 21-day period, expedite ECMO initiation in ECPR patients and alleviate the psychological burden on the ECPR team, compared to newly assembled and primed ECMO circuits (on-demand group). Methods: In a prospective manner, ECMO circuits were either pre-assembled and pre-primed under sterile conditions, maintained for 21 days with culture samples taken every seventh day, or newly assembled and primed during the acute emergency situation. The transition from on-demand assembly and priming of ECMO circuits to pre-primed ECMO circuits occurred on January 1st, 2021. The interval between patients’ arrival in the cardiac catheterization laboratory and the initiation of ECMO was recorded and retrospectively compared between the two treatment groups. The ECPR team, comprising experienced cardiologists and nurses, was prospectively surveyed using the modified Perceived Stress Questionnaire (PSQ-20). Results: All aseptically pre-assembled and pre-primed ECMO circuits demonstrated sterile cultures for aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms as well as fungal agents over the 21-day period: 0/120 positive cultures (0 %, 95 % CI for binomial probability 0–0.03). The time to ECMO initiation was significantly reduced in the pre-primed group compared to the on-demand group: 13 [IQR 9–17] versus 31 [IQR 27–44] minutes, P

Cannabis is an herb known for its significant pharmacological effects. This study evaluated the safety of a female sexual hygiene product containing cannabidiol on the skin of experimental animals and humans. Irritation symptoms were tested using three female New Zealand white rabbits. In human trials, irritation and sensitivity symptoms were assessed in 30 healthy female volunteers. The results from the animal study indicated that body weight and clinical symptoms remained normal, with only slight irritation noted in the primary irritation index of the skin (PII = 0.6). In human trials, transepidermal water loss was observed during the induction phase but decreased over time. No abnormalities were found during the induction phase; however, irritation occurred during the challenge phase, which resolved after 8 h. It was concluded that the rinse-off product caused slight irritation when applied for more than 4 h in animals and 24 h in humans, which differs from its intended use of immediate rinse-off, where no irritation was observed.

Abstract Inadequate safe water supply and poor sanitation and hygiene continue to be important risk factors for diarrhoea and stunting globally. We used data from the four rounds of the Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey and applied the new World Health Organization (WHO)/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Program (JMP) service standards to assess progress in water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) coverage between 2000 and 2016. We also performed an age‐disaggregated pooled linear probability regression analysis followed by a decomposition analysis to determine whether changes in WASH practices have contributed to the changing prevalence of diarrhoea and stunting in children under 5 years of age. We observed a significant increase in the coverage of safe drinking water and adequate sanitation facilities over the period. At the national level, the use of a basic water source increased from 18% in 2000 to 50% in 2016. Open defecation declined from 82% to 32% over the same period. However, in 2016, only 6% of households had access to a basic sanitation facility, and 40% of households had no handwashing facilities. The reduction in surface water use between 2000 and 2016 explained 6% of the decline in diarrhoea observed among children aged 0–5 months. In children aged 6–59 months, between 7% and 9% of the reduction in stunting were attributable to the reduction in open defecation over this period. Despite progress, improvements are still needed to increase basic WASH coverage in Ethiopia. Our findings showed that improvements in water and sanitation only modestly explained reductions in diarrhoea and stunting.

Abstract Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) is the most serious form of acute malnutrition and is associated with high mortality risk among children under 5. While the Community‐based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) approach, recommended for treating cases of uncomplicated SAM, has increased treatment coverage and recovery outcomes, high relapse rates have been reported. Several risk factors for SAM relapse, such as insufficient food intake and high infectious disease burden in the community, have been identified. However, the role of household water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) conditions remains unclear. This systematic review: (1) assesses the effectiveness of WASH interventions on preventing SAM relapse and (2) identifies WASH‐related conditions associated with relapse to SAM among children aged 6–59 months discharged as recovered following SAM CMAM treatment. We performed electronic searches of six databases to identify relevant studies published between 1 January 2000 and 6 November 2023 and assessed their quality. After deduplication, 10,294 documents were screened by title and abstract, with 13 retrieved for full‐text screening. We included three studies ranging from low‐ to medium‐quality. One intervention study found that providing a WASH kit during SAM outpatient treatment did not reduce the risk of relapse to SAM. Two observational studies found inconsistent associations between household WASH conditions—unimproved sanitation and unsafe drinking water—and SAM relapse. Despite the paucity of evidence, the hypothesised causal pathways between WASH conditions and the risk of relapse remain plausible. Further evidence is needed to identify interventions for an integrated postdischarge approach to prevent relapse.

Given its presence in a wide spectrum of soils relevant to food process hygiene, the biological metabolite adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is used as a target for surface hygiene assessments in food processing facilities. Yet, ample evidence demonstrates that ATP is depleted into adenosine di- (ADP) and monophosphate (AMP) homologs resulting in a loss of sensitivity for ATP-based hygiene assays. Yet, there are few studies that denote the degree of these shifts under routine processing conditions such as those encountered during various meat processing steps that may likely alter redox potential and adenosine profiles (e.g., tissue/cellular disruption, application of reducing additives, fermentation, or thermal treatment steps). In this study, meat samples were collected from homogenized beef tissue treated with nonmeat ingredients (sodium chloride, sodium nitrite, sodium erythorbate, natural smoke condensate, and sodium acid pyrophosphate) during manufacture at predetermined steps, and from retail meat products purchased from local markets. Concentrations of ATP, ADP, AMP, and AXP (sum concentration of all homologs) in a lab setting and in situ meat processing venues were determined and compared. Greater differences in AXP were seen during manufacture, where ADP generally comprised ∼90% as a mole fraction of AXP across all treatments, with the exception of the final cook step where AMP predominated. ATP concentrations averaged 2 log values lower than ADP and AMP. Adenosine profiles in retail samples followed similar trends with minimal ATP concentrations with ADP predominant in uncooked samples and AMP predominant in cooked samples. Resultingly, meat processing steps during product manufacture will alter AXP-reliant test sensitivities which should be considered when such technologies are utilized for hygiene verification in meat processing.

Introduction and aim of the study: Ear wax plays many roles in maintaining ear health, such as cleansing, shielding, and lubricating the external auditory canal. Sometimes, when earwax obstruction occurs, for example as a result of improper hygiene procedures (such as using cotton swabs), it can cause a number of disorders ranging from discomfort to even loss of hearing. In such cases, various methods can be used to remove the cerumen impaction. One of these and also the most commonly used, involves the usage of ear drops, which can contain different active substances (water-based compounds, oil-based compounds, a combination of oil and water-based compounds, and non-water, non-oil solutions). The aim of our study is to present current state of knowledge about effectiveness of various types of ear drops in wax cleaning. Material and methods: Our review is based on the analysis of materials collected in Pubmed”, „Google Scholar” and other scientific articles using keywords: „earwax”, cerumen impaction”, „cerumenolytics”, „ear drops”, „cerumen”, „earwax solvents”, „wax solvents”. Conclusions: Despite numerous studies, the Holy Grail has not been found among ear drops. The majority conducted studies did not show that any of the cerumenolitics were superior to the others in a statistically significant way. The only result that was statistically significant was the one showing a higher effectiveness of 2.5% sodium bicarbonate compared to docusate sodium. Further research is needed.

The global rise in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a significant public health threat, especially in healthcare settings, where controlling the spread of antimicrobial genes is crucial. While person-to-person transmission remains the primary route for healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), hospital surfaces serve as key reservoirs for antimicrobial-resistant microorganisms. Regular cleaning and disinfection of these surfaces are essential. Microbial-based products for sanitizing hospital surfaces have emerged as promising tools to combat HAIs and AMR. However, a review of 32 publications found inconsistencies and potential risks. A total of 15 publications included hospital-based trials, while the rest were either in vitro or in situ assays, reviews, book chapters, or commentaries. In most of the hospital-based studies, specific strains of applied microorganisms were not identified, and the term “probiotic” was inaccurately used. These products mainly featured spores from Bacillus and Priestia genera, which was mainly hypothesized to work through competitive exclusion. Most hospital-based studies have shown that the application of microbial-based products resulted in a significant reduction in pathogens on surfaces, thereby contributing to a decrease in the incidence of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). Further research is however needed to understand the effectiveness, mechanisms of action, and safety of microbial-based sanitizing agents. Strain-level identification is crucial for safety assessments, yet many reviewed products lacked this information. Consequently, there is a need for rigorous safety evaluations within existing regulatory frameworks to ensure the efficacy and safety of microbial-based cleaning products in healthcare settings.

Background: Socioeconomic development and population growth have led to canal pollution, a challenge in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), Vietnam. In HCMC, diffuse pollution of rivers and canals makes applying pollution control measures at the source challenging. Poor sanitation, insufficient safe drinking water, and poor hygiene practices are the leading causes of the emergence of waterborne diseases. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was done to investigate the knowledge, behavior, and factors associated with sanitation and hygiene of residents living along the side of canals in HCMC. This study also investigated the pollution of canal water in the primary canal systems in HCMC. Results: The canal water systems at Ho Chi Minh City exceeded the permissible thresholds of Vietnam's discharge limit standards of total coliforms and E. coli. Among the 640 households interviewed, 60% of residents perceived that the polluted canal environment affected their lives. Most residents (99%) used tap water for daily activities, but 25% of households did not filter water before drinking. The hygiene behavior is uneven; more than 30% of households discharged wastewater into the canal, and nearly 60% of children have the conditions to contact flood water on the street. The causes of water pollution in canals are people's low awareness, with only 38.4% of respondents interested in canal-environmental protection activities, inadequate infrastructure (59%), and the ineffective management of surface water resources (57.8%). Conclusion: The study indicated incorrect knowledge and behavior toward sanitation and protecting the canal environment of the local people caused increasing pollution of canal water. Hence, measures must be implemented to protect the canal water environment and the community's health, such as training about sanitation and hygiene for local people.

Access to safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene in Chad's cities, especially N'Djamena, is a persistent and significant challenge. This study aimed to assess current practices in water, sanitation, and hygiene in N'Djamena's third and ninth districts. We surveyed 395 households, conducted water source identification, and analyzed seven water samples at the National Water Laboratory. Temperature, ammonium, total coliforms, and aerobic flora values exceeded World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. Ammonium and temperature averaged 0.7 mg/L and 30.1–31.93 °C, respectively. Bacterial contamination (>100 MPN/100 mL) exceeded the WHO's 0 MPN/100 mL guidelines, rendering the water unfit for consumption. Survey results indicate that 78.7% use hand pumps, 21.1% have tap water access, and 0.2% rely on rivers for water. Regarding toilets, 92.8% have traditional models, 2.9% have modern facilities, and 4.3% practice open defecation. 95% dispose of untreated wastewater into nature, with only 5% using septic tanks. For solid waste, 72% use illegal dumpsites, 18% rely on public services, and 10% burn waste. Finally, 95.5% of households wash their hands with clean water and soap after using the toilet. It is crucial to treat drinking water and implement proper hygiene and sanitation measures to safeguard the population's health in the studied area. HIGHLIGHTS Identification of gaps for targeted interventions.; Enhancement of public health and quality of life.; Information for more effective WASH policies and programs.; Foundation for mobilizing resources and partnerships.; Strengthening resilience in the face of water-related challenges.;

La présente étude a pour objectif l’évaluation des connaissances, attitudes et pratiques des travailleurs de la Carrigrès sur l’hygiène, santé et sécurité au travail en vue de prévenir les accidents de travail et les maladies professionnelles. Cette entreprise compte 120 travailleurs regroupés en agents du service administratif et du secteur de la production dans une étude descriptive transversale menée auprès de la société Carrigrès. Les résultats ont montré que les connaissances des travailleurs sur l’hygiène, santé et sécurité au travail ont été évaluées à 88,3%. Près de 40% des participants ont connu un accident de travail au cours de leur carrière et 50% d’entre eux étaient pris en charge par l’entreprise. De façon générale, les travailleurs avaient une bonne connaissance sur l’hygiène, la sécurité et la santé au travail ainsi que sur les risques professionnels liés au travail.

Context: Alcohol gel (70% ethanol, AG) and 2% chlorhexidine foam (CF) are hand antiseptics recommended by the World Health Organization. Although both are effective, it is unclear if one is superior to the other in a hospital setting. Aims: To evaluate the disinfectant ability comparing AG and CF by analyzing microbial reduction on the hands of nursing staff from two hospitals in Northern Peru. Methods: The nursing staff was randomly assigned to the AG and CF treatment groups. Before and after antisepsis, samples were taken by inserting the hands into a sterile self-closing bag containing peptone water. A sample of the liquid medium was plated on agar and used to calculate the CFU/mL of the peptone water. Participant data was analyzed in aggregate or according to hospital, profession, or service. Results: Both AG and CF were significantly effective in reducing CFU/mL. In aggregate, CFU/mL reduction was 80.9% for AG and 91.3% for CF, but the difference was not statistically significant. However, a small statistically significant difference in favor of CF was observed in the surgical center of both hospitals. These results are confirmed with multivariate analysis. Conclusions: AG and CF are both effective in hand antisepsis, but other factors are important when deciding which agent is appropriate for a specific healthcare setting.

Abstract Background This study aimed to identify the determinants of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) behaviors and conditions among women in poor neighborhoods in Izmir, Turkey, and to develop a scale for assessing WASH behaviors and conditions that is specifically designed for use in precarious urban areas. Methods The study used a cross-sectional design, as well as a methodological feature for developing the scale. The sample size was calculated as 243 households out of 2667 households in the Basmane neighborhood, with a 95% confidence interval and a 6% margin of error, and a woman who was responsible for cleaning was invited to participate from each household. The scales for WASH behaviors and conditions, which served as dependent variables, were developed in a four-stage process, yielding two distinct scales. The WASH-Behaviors Scale had 14 items about hand, body, and home hygiene, whereas the WASH-Conditions in Households Scale included 16 items about variables like area per capita, physical structure, and cleaning tool availability. Age, ethnicity, number of children, education, work status, and income were among the independent variables. Data was collected through household visits. The scales’ validity was evaluated using exploratory factor analysis. Linear logistic regression analysis was employed to assess the determinants of WASH behaviors. Results The women, with an average age of 40.65 ± 14.35 years, faced economic challenges, as a substantial portion earned an income below the minimum wage. More than half of them were uninsured, and 72.6% were identified as migrants or refugees. Factor analysis confirmed the compatibility of both scales (KMO = 0.78–0.80, p

Introduction: Most adolescent women face many restrictions, which become much more severe during menstruation. In India, millions of adolescent girls drop out of school every year due to menstruation-related problems and restrictions. Despite extensive research, a paucity of literature was observed on the level of knowledge, attitude, and practices of adolescent girls regarding menstruation. Hence, we proceeded to undertake the present study, to have a deeper understanding of the menstrual hygiene management of adolescents. Aims: To describe the menstrual hygiene management among adolescent school girls. Objectives: (a) To examine the association, if any, between menstrual hygiene management and school absenteeism during menstruation in adolescent school girls. Materials And Methods: We conducted a school-based cross-sectional analytical study in an urban area in north India. The study population comprised adolescent school girls of all the high schools in the urban area. With a 95% confidence interval, and 5% margin of error, the sample size was calculated to be 369. However, an even larger sample size of 600 was actually studied. The probability proportional to size sampling approach was followed based on the number of adolescent girls in each school class/section. Participants were selected through a stratified proportionate sampling method. Ethical approval was obtained from the ethical committee of the district director of education of the urban area where the study was conducted before the commencement of the study. Confidentiality of the information collected was ensured. The data collected was quantitative in nature, using a pretested self-administered questionnaire consisting of both open-ended and close-ended questions. Data was checked for its completeness, coded, and entered into Microsoft Excel 2021 Spreadsheet. Subsequently, the data was imported into IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) Statistics for Windows, Version 23.0. Armonk, NY: IBM Corp. for data analysis. Standard statistical methods were utilized for data analysis. Results: The mean age (standard deviation [SD]) of the study participants was 13.68 (1.29). The mean age (SD) at menarche was 13.29 (0.96). Based on the overall menstrual hygiene management score, 377 (62.83%) of the study participants were engaged in good menstrual hygiene management, while 223 (37.17%) were engaged in poor menstrual hygiene management. The mean score (SD) was 7.80 (±0.43). Compared to those aged 17–19 years, those aged 10–13 years had a 0.36 (95% CI 0.17–0.75) decreased odds of good menstrual hygiene, while those aged 14–16 years had a 0.29 (95% CI 0.14–0.59) decreased odds of good menstrual hygiene. The adjusted odds ratios were 0.32 (95% CI 0.19–0.65) and 0.25 (95% CI 0.12–0.41) respectively. Out of 600 study participants, 229 (38.17%) reported school absenteeism at least once in the last 1 year because of menstruation. The mean (standard deviation) duration of school absenteeism was 2.4 (0.78) days per menstrual cycle. The commonest reason for menstruation-related school absenteeism was pain, wherein 105 (45.85%) study participants reported this reason. Conclusion: In our study, we observed that over two-thirds of the study participants were engaged in good menstrual hygiene practices, while ~40% of them reported menstrual-related school absenteeism. Our study also found evidence that the age of the school girls was associated with their menstrual hygiene management practices. We recommend further research on the impact of menstruation and its management on the academic performance of adolescent school girls. Efforts are also required to develop the capacity of teachers to teach menstrual hygiene education.

Menstrual Health and Hygiene (MHH) require adequate sanitary facilities, clean water, product access, privacy and safety, and disposal. MHH can significantly influence girls' health and educational achievements. However, schools in some developing countries lack proper Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) amenities to manage healthy menstruation. Therefore, it is crucial to enhance WASH services to tackle menstrual-related difficulties effectively. Zambian government schools struggle with insufficient WASH infrastructures. Hence, it is imperative to reveal the status of WASH services for policy progress and to promote girls' optimal menstrual health. We conducted observations and a qualitative study to evaluate the school's WASH facilities, investigate the sociocultural factors impacting MHH, and examine coping mechanisms to manage menstruation. Thirty adolescent schoolgirls, aged 14–19, residing in Lusaka peri-urban areas, participated in five focus group discussions. Insufficient school security, inadequate sanitary facilities, absence of clean water, and limited access to menstrual materials presented notable challenges. Culturally, there was an expectation for girls to swiftly embrace womanhood despite being unprepared for the natural biological process it entailed. Girls formulated strategies for managing challenges associated with MHH. The fundamental needs of menstruating girls include a sufficient supply of menstrual materials, improved WASH services, increased safety, and enhanced privacy. HIGHLIGHTS Sociocultural beliefs influence menstrual health and hygiene (MHH).; Good MHH includes safe WASH.; Functional WASH facilities, clean and safe water, safety, and disposal facilities are crucial.; Girls need provisions that are female-friendly, socially acceptable, and appropriate. These provisions should also meet their culturally context-specific needs.; Girls’ needs continue to persist, including sufficient menstrual materials, improved WASH services, enhanced safety, and privacy.;