The Effect of COVID-19 Awareness on the Hygiene Behaviors of Individuals in the Region of Northern Cyprus.

Objectives: The ability to cope with diseases and the methods of protection from infections has become an essential part of everyday life. The magnitude of the changes caused by the pandemic goes well beyond economic, psychological and sociological realms, and creates a new life cycle. This study, aims to determine the effect of individual awareness related to COVID-19 on individuals' hygiene behaviors. Methods: This was a descriptive, cross-sectional scale based study carried out between May and September 2021 in the 6 different districts of Northern Cyprus. The results come from 403 participants. A socio-demographic form and the COVID-19 Awareness and Hygiene Scales are applied to the participants. Results: We found a positive and statistically significant correlation between the general scores of participants from the COVID-19 Awareness Scale and COVID-19 Hygiene Scale. As the participants' scores in the COVID-19 Awareness Scale increased, so did their scores of the COVID-19 Hygiene Scale. Conclusions: Individuals' awareness related to COVID-19 had a positive effect on their hygiene behaviors during the pandemic. Accordingly, the acquisition of proper hygiene behaviors by individuals should be one of the most important strategic measures that societies should take against infectious diseases.

Current situation of COVID-19 in northern Cyprus

Background: The public health burden of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is expected to increase and urgent strict measures by decision-makers is critical for the containment of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak worldwide. Aims: This study aimed to give a real-time analysis of COVID-19 presence in northern Cyprus. Methods: All official SARS-CoV-2 positive cases were tracked and reported in terms of the origin, nationality, and transmission routes. Preventive measures taken after the first reported case were analyzed for their effectiveness as control strategies. Results: The index case of SARS-CoV-2 in northern Cyprus was identified as a female German tourist. First local case had travel history from the United Kingdom after which local transmission occurred. Rapid and strict containment measures have currently delayed a peak in observed cases. Conclusions: Rapid implementation of social-distancing measures, good hygiene measures and travel/gathering bans in northern Cyprus has been effective in controlling the outbreak.

Toilet hygiene-review and research needs.

The goal of good toilet hygiene is minimizing the potential for pathogen transmission. Control of odours is also socially important and believed to be a societal measure of cleanliness. Understanding the need for good cleaning and disinfecting is even more important today considering the potential spread of emerging pathogens such as SARS-CoV-2 virus. While the flush toilet was a major advancement in achieving these objectives, exposure to pathogens can occur from failure to clean and disinfect areas within a restroom, as well as poor hand hygiene. The build-up of biofilm within a toilet bowl/urinal including sink can result in the persistence of pathogens and odours. During flushing, pathogens can be ejected from the toilet bowl/urinal/sink and be transmitted by inhalation and contaminated fomites. Use of automatic toilet bowl cleaners can reduce the number of microorganisms ejected during a flush. Salmonella bacteria can colonize the underside of the rim of toilets and persist up to 50 days. Pathogenic enteric bacteria appear in greater numbers in the biofilm found in toilets than in the water. Source tracking of bacteria in homes has demonstrated that during cleaning enteric bacteria are transferred from the toilet to the bathroom sinks and that these same bacteria colonize cleaning tools used in the restroom. Quantitative microbial risk assessment has shown that significant risks exist from both aerosols and fomites in restrooms. Cleaning with soaps and detergents without the use of disinfectants in public restrooms may spread bacteria and viruses throughout the restroom. Odours in restrooms are largely controlled by ventilation and flushing volume in toilet/urinals. However, this results in increased energy and water usage. Contamination of both the air and surfaces in restrooms is well documented. Better quantification of the risks of infection are needed as this will help determine what interventions will minimize these risks.

The distinct associations of ingroup attachment and glorification with responses to the coronavirus pandemic: Evidence from a multilevel investigation in 21 countries.

While public health crises such as the coronavirus pandemic transcend national borders, practical efforts to combat them are often instantiated at the national level. Thus, national group identities may play key roles in shaping compliance with and support for preventative measures (e.g., hygiene and lockdowns). Using data from 25,159 participants across representative samples from 21 nations, we investigated how different modalities of ingroup identification (attachment and glorification) are linked with reactions to the coronavirus pandemic (compliance and support for lockdown restrictions). We also examined the extent to which the associations of attachment and glorification with responses to the coronavirus pandemic are mediated through trust in information about the coronavirus pandemic from scientific and government sources. Multilevel models suggested that attachment, but not glorification, was associated with increased trust in science and compliance with federal COVID-19 guidelines. However, while both attachment and glorification were associated with trust in government and support for lockdown restrictions, glorification was more strongly associated with trust in government information than attachment. These results suggest that both attachment and glorification can be useful for promoting public health, although glorification's role, while potentially stronger, is restricted to pathways through trust in government information.

Infection prevention and control between legal requirements and German Society for Hygiene and Microbiology expert assessments: a cross-sectional study in September-November 2022.

BACKGROUND: In contrast to the beginning of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), pandemic, more and more hospital issues are now regulated by policy. AIM: To identify differences between expert recommendations and legal requirements regarding infection prevention and control (IPC) strategies. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted between 29th September 2022 and 3rd November 2022 addressing 1319 members of the German Society for Hygiene and Microbiology. The response rate was 12%. This paper reports the expert recommendations on different IPC strategies. FINDINGS: The majority (66%) of experts recommended universal mask usage, with 34% recommending it seasonally, even after the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Medical microbiology (MM) experts were more likely to recommend continuing to wear the masks indefinitely compared with IPC experts. Concerning the mask type, medical masks were recommended more frequently by IPC experts (47.3%), while FFP2 masks were preferred by MM experts (31.8%). The majority (54.7%) of experts recommended universal screening of employees, mainly in settings with extremely vulnerable patients and if regional incidence rates were high, at a frequency of twice per week. The dominant advice (recommended by at least 50% of experts) for employees exposed to SARS-CoV-2 was daily testing and wearing a mask, regardless of the length of exposure. CONCLUSIONS: Expert recommendations deviate from the legal requirements and appear to be more differentiated and proportional. The influence of specific experience and expertise on mask recommendations should be investigated in more detail. For relevant policy decisions, a quick, focused and broad-based consultation of expertise could be of added value.

Effectiveness of patient triage at the orthopedic hospital and the hygiene concept in a professional handball team in the first year of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

The first severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV­2) pandemic wave in Germany in spring 2020 challenged the largely unprepared healthcare system. A prevention concept was implemented to protect the vulnerable patient group at our orthopedic department. The patient triage during the pre-admission process included screening for symptoms and obtaining information on travel, occupation, contact and cluster (TOCC) [16].In March 2020, all sporting events were also cancelled or postponed [12]. Mitigation strategies for sport activities were necessary to restart training and competition. For the professional handball team of the Sport Club Magdeburg (SCM), a hygiene concept including strict mitigation measures combined with a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test regime was implemented.We reviewed 15,739 patient contacts in a 12-month period at orthopedic department during the SARS-CoV­2 pandemic. This epidemiological, retrospective study presents the results of patient triage detecting cases with suspected SARS-CoV­2 infections when entering the clinic. We also considered 2328 inpatient PCR test results and the infection rates among the medical staff. At the same period, professional athletes underwent 1428 PCR tests as a part of the hygiene concept.During the triage process, 333 cases (2.12%) with suspected SARS-CoV­2 infections were detected at the orthopedic outpatient department. Three patients had a positive PCR test result after triage. Another four positive PCR tests were found among the inpatient group and one positive result among the medical staff. In the athletes' cohort, none of the 1428 PCR tests was positive.Patient triage as a part of the preadmission process is an effective tool to protect the maximum-care hospital from a SARS-CoV­2 mass outbreak. A hygiene concept with a defined PCR test regime protects a professional athlete team from SARS-CoV­2 infections during international competition and training.

Determinants of malaria infections among children in refugee settlements in Uganda during 2018-2019.

BACKGROUND: While 5% of 247 million global malaria cases are reported in Uganda, it is also a top refugee hosting country in Africa, with over 1.36 million refugees. Despite malaria being an emerging challenge for humanitarian response in refugee settlements, little is known about its risk factors. This study aimed to investigate the risk factors for malaria infections among children under 5 years of age in refugee settlements in Uganda. METHODS: We utilized data from Uganda's Malaria Indicator Survey which was conducted between December 2018 and February 2019 at the peak of malaria season. In this national survey, household level information was obtained using standardized questionnaires and a total of 7787 children under 5 years of age were tested for malaria using mainly the rapid diagnostic test. We focused on 675 malaria tested children under five in refugee settlements located in Yumbe, Arua, Adjumani, Moyo, Lamwo, Kiryadongo, Kyegegwa, Kamwenge and Isingiro districts. The extracted variables included prevalence of malaria, demographic, social-economic and environmental information. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify and define the malaria associated risk factors. RESULTS: Overall, malaria prevalence in all refugee settlements across the nine hosting districts was 36.6%. Malaria infections were higher in refugee settlements located in Isingiro (98.7%), Kyegegwa (58.6%) and Arua (57.4%) districts. Several risk factors were significantly associated with acquisition of malaria including fetching water from open water sources [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.22, 95% CI: 0.08-0.59, P = 0.002], boreholes (aOR = 2.11, 95% CI: 0.91-4.89, P = 0.018) and water tanks (aOR = 4.47, 95% CI: 1.67-11.9, P = 0.002). Other factors included pit-latrines (aOR = 1.48, 95% CI: 1.03-2.13, P = 0.033), open defecation (aOR = 3.29, 95% CI: 1.54-7.05, P = 0.002), lack of insecticide treated bed nets (aOR = 1.15, 95% CI: 0.43-3.13, P = 0.003) and knowledge on the causes of malaria (aOR = 1.09, 95% CI: 0.79-1.51, P = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: The persistence of the malaria infections were mainly due to open water sources, poor hygiene, and lack of preventive measures that enhanced mosquito survival and infection. Malaria elimination in refugee settlements requires an integrated control approach that combines environmental management with other complementary measures like insecticide treated bed nets, indoor residual spraying and awareness.

Pandemic Education-Insights into Teachers' Perceptions of Hygiene Measures in Schools Due to COVID-19.

To prevent the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) and protect the health of school staff and students, Austrian education policymakers introduced several hygiene measures that posed new challenges for teachers. The current paper focuses on teachers' perceptions of hygiene measures in schools during the 2021-2022 school year. In Study 1, 1372 Austrian teachers participated in an online survey at the end of 2021. In Study 2, five teachers participated in an in-depth qualitative interview study. The quantitative results show that half the teachers felt a strong burden from the COVID-19 tests, but that the tests worked better when teachers had more teaching experience. Elementary and secondary school teachers, unlike special education teachers, had fewer problems implementing COVID-19 testing. The qualitative results suggest that teachers needed an acclimatization period for previously unfamiliar tasks, such as COVID-19 testing, to become accustomed to this newly implemented measure. Additionally, wearing facemasks was only evaluated positively in the context of self-serving strategies, while the protection of student health was not considered. In summary, the current study calls attention to the particular vulnerability of teachers and provides insights into the reality of schools in times of crisis that could be particularly helpful to education policymakers.

Does pre-COVID impulsive behaviour predict adherence to hygiene and social distancing measures in youths following the COVID-19 pandemic onset? Evidence from a South African longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: Engagement in protective behaviours relating to the COVID-19 pandemic has been proposed to be key to infection control. This is particularly the case for youths as key drivers of infections. A range of factors influencing adherence have been identified, including impulsivity and risk taking. We assessed the association between pre-COVID impulsivity levels and engagement in preventative measures during the COVID-19 pandemic in a longitudinal South African sample, in order to inform future pandemic planning. METHODS: Data were collected from N = 214 youths (mean age at baseline: M = 17.81 (SD = .71), 55.6% female) living in a South African peri-urban settlement characterised by high poverty and deprivation. Baseline assessments were taken in 2018/19 and the COVID follow-up was conducted in June-October 2020 via remote data collection. Impulsivity was assessed using the Balloon Analogue Task (BART), while hygiene and social distancing behaviours were captured through self-report. Stepwise hierarchical regression analyses were performed to estimate effects of impulsivity on measure adherence. RESULTS: Self-rated engagement in hygiene behaviours was high (67.1-86.1% "most of the time", except for "coughing/sneezing into one's elbow" at 33.3%), while engagement in social distancing behaviours varied (22.4-57.8% "most of the time"). Higher impulsivity predicted lower levels of hygiene (ß = .14, p = .041) but not social distancing behaviours (ß = -.02, p = .82). This association was retained when controlling for a range of demographic and COVID-related factors (ß = .14, p = .047) and was slightly reduced when including the effects of a life-skills interventions on hygiene behaviour (ß = -.13, p = .073). CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that impulsivity may predict adolescent engagement in hygiene behaviours post COVID-19 pandemic onset in a high risk, sub-Saharan African setting, albeit with a small effect size. For future pandemics, it is important to understand predictors of engagement, particularly in the context of adversity, where adherence may be challenging. Limitations include a small sample size and potential measure shortcomings.

The pit latrine paradox in low-income settings: A sanitation technology of choice or a pollution hotspot?

Pit latrines are widely promoted to improve sanitation in low-income settings, but their pollution and health risks receive cursory attention. The present narrative review presents the pit latrine paradox; (1) the pit latrine is considered a sanitation technology of choice to safeguard human health, and (2) conversely, pit latrines are pollution and health risk hotspots. Evidence shows that the pit latrine is a 'catch-all' receptacle for household disposal of hazardous waste, including; (1) medical wastes (COVID-19 PPE, pharmaceuticals, placenta, used condoms), (2) pesticides and pesticide containers, (3) menstrual hygiene wastes (e.g., sanitary pads), and (4) electronic wastes (batteries). Pit latrines serve as hotspot reservoirs that receive, harbour, and then transmit the following into the environment; (1) conventional contaminants (nitrates, phosphates, pesticides), (2) emerging contaminants (pharmaceuticals and personal care products, antibiotic resistance), and (3) indicator organisms, and human bacterial and viral pathogens, and disease vectors (rodents, houseflies, bats). As greenhouse gas emission hotspots, pit latrines contribute 3.3 to 9.4 Tg/year of methane, but this could be an under-estimation. Contaminants in pit latrines may migrate into surface water, and groundwater systems serving as drinking water sources and pose human health risks. In turn, this culminates into the pit latrine-groundwater-human continuum or connectivity, mediated via water and contaminant migration. Human health risks of pit latrines, a critique of current evidence, and current and emerging mitigation measures are presented, including isolation distance, hydraulic liners/ barriers, ecological sanitation, and the concept of a circular bioeconomy. Finally, future research directions on the epidemiology and fate of contaminants in pit latrines are presented. The pit latrine paradox is not meant to downplay pit latrines' role or promote open defaecation. Rather, it seeks to stimulate discussion and research to refine the technology to enhance its functionality while mitigating pollution and health risks.

The Incidence and Severity of Myopia in the Population of Medical Students and Its Dependence on Various Demographic Factors and Vision Hygiene Habits.

(1) Background: Myopia is one of the leading causes of visual impairment. Visual work and usage of electronic devices are known risk factors of myopia. Many education systems were forced to apply online and hybrid teaching methods, to reduce the number of new cases of COVID-19. Medical students are a population well-known for intense visual work in the form of learning; (2) Methods: Visual acuity and refractive error were measured in the population of medical students. Participants also filled out the survey that included their population characteristic and their habits related to the hygiene of vision; (3) Results: We found a correlation between the age of the first diagnosis of myopia and current values of refractive error. The majority of participants believe that the COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on the health of their vision. Among methods of studying, usage of the computer screen was less preferred by myopic students; (4) Conclusions: In the population of medical school students in Eastern Poland, visual acuity was lower than 1.0 in 232 (52.97%) in the right eye and 234 (53.42%) in the left eye. Early recognition of refractive error has influenced its current values. Among methods of studying, usage of the computer screen was less preferred by myopic students. More population-based studies should focus on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the health of vision.

Protecting healthcare personnel and patients over 3 years of COVID-19 : Effective protection by masks and hygiene: What else was effective?

Healthcare professionals, particularly those in test centers, laboratories, or specialized COVID-19 wards, are in danger of becoming infected. Patients with special underlying health conditions are at an increased risk of getting very sick, being hospitalized, or dying from COVID-19. Age is a leading risk factor in this context. Currently, FFP2 (Filtering Facepiece 2, European standard), N95 (US standard), and KN95 (Chinese standard) face masks remain the simplest measure of protection. Coronavirus warning apps installed on smartphones have been recommended for anonymous contact tracing and quickly disrupting chains of infection. Preventive testing two to three times per week for healthcare personnel, on the day of hospital admission for patients, and upon facility entry for visitors has been routinely performed or has been requested from external test centers in most medical institutions. However, vaccination is regarded the most effective protective measure against COVID-19. The general recommendation of the World Health Organization is that countries continue to work toward vaccinating at least 70% of their populations, prioritizing the vaccination of 100% of healthcare workers and 100% of the most vulnerable groups, including people who are over 60 years of age and those who are immunocompromised or have underlying health conditions. The most vulnerable individuals among patients and healthcare workers should be identified and then their vaccination status should be checked and, if necessary, optimized by booster administration. In Germany, seasonal and institutional recommendations for individual protection by face masks, for hygiene measures, and for preventive testing must follow the updated coronavirus protection regulations (Coronavirus-Schutzverordnungen).

The Story of the plague in the Maritime Republic of Genoa (Italy) (1656-1657): An innovative public health system and an efficacious method of territorial health organization.

Introduction: With the recent COVID-19 pandemic, the terms quarantine, contagion and infection have again become part of our everyday speech, prompting historians to reflect on the settings in which they were originally used and to make comparisons with the present time. How did people cope with epidemics in the past? What measures were taken? Objectives: Here, we analyse the institutional response of the Republic of Genoa to a calamity that shook the city - the plague of 1656-1657. In doing so, we focus particularly on the public health measures implemented, as recorded also in unpublished and archival documents. Discussion: In order to tighten control over the population, Genoa was divided into 20 zones, each of which was placed under the authority of a Commissioner endowed with criminal jurisdiction. The Commissioners' duties concerned the spheres of public health, public order and those tasks which today we would assign to "civil protection". Through the official documentation and the trial records kept by the Chancellor of one of these zones, we can shed light on the Commissioners' everyday activities and assess the impact of the public health measures on the population. Conclusions: The 17th century plague in Genoa provides us with an important testimony of a well-organised and structured public health policy - an institutional response involving the adoption of efficacious measures of safety and prevention in the field of hygiene and public health. From the historical-social, normative and public health perspectives, this meaningful experience highlights the organisation of a large port city, which was at the time a flourishing commercial and financial hub.

Towards a participatory framework for improving water & health outcomes: A case study with Maasai women in rural Tanzania.

Rural communities in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are disproportionately burdened by a pervasive lack of access to safe drinking water. Widespread programmatic failure in the water, sanitation, and hygiene (WaSH) sector has resulted in particularly slow progress in alleviating these challenges in the region. Drawing from decolonial and participatory methodological scholarship, this research demonstrates how geographically and demographically specific, locally controlled, and long-term educational programming can improve health and wellness outcomes when associated with a technological intervention. Specifically, consultations between January 2015 and August 2018 were followed by an iterative and community-driven program development process between January and July 2019. Fifty Maasai women were subsequently recruited to participate and were provided with a point-of-use water treatment technology in August 2019. These women engaged in a series of three 14-week WaSH education programs over an 18-month evaluation period. Results showed that 38% of participants reported regular diarrhea at baseline, decreasing to 8%, 0%, and 3% immediately after each of the three WaSH education programs were provided at 3, 12, and 18 months. Interim measurements taken between WaSH programs showed 35% of participants (at 6 months) and 5% of participants (at 15 months) reporting regular diarrhea. A trend of improvement was thus observed over the study period, though the increase in reported diarrhea at 6 months demonstrates the need for long-term commitment on the part of WASH practitioners when engaging with end users to achieve sustained change. Further, this research highlights the importance of participatory program development and pedagogical approaches in WaSH interventions, where local control of study objective determination and implementation, combined with consistent and long-term engagement, can facilitate sustained technology use and associated reductions in diarrhea.

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in Japanese elementary schools: Current conditions and practices.

BACKGROUND: Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) is the foundation for preventing infectious diseases, as the current COVID-19 pandemic has shown. WASH is essential for school health, yet there have been very few papers published on WASH in Japanese schools. The objective of this review is to describe the current conditions and practices in Japanese elementary schools using an international framework for WASH in schools and identify implications for handwashing promotion in other areas. METHODS: This research was based primarily on a literature review. Information on common WASH practices was also collected through an international workshop attended by school health experts. RESULTS: There is a rigorous legal foundation for ensuring the physical infrastructure and quality control of a safe water supply in Japanese schools. Water quality is monitored regularly by Yogo teachers and school pharmacists. Strategic locations and an abundance of water supply infrastructure facilitate handwashing behavior. Hygiene promotion activities by Yogo teachers and student's health committees play a major role in increasing awareness, while health education classes provide minimal but necessary knowledge on handwashing with soap. Flush toilets are the standard, but there is still a demand for improvement of toilet facilities. Children's participation in daily cleaning of school toilets contributes to students understanding the importance of cleanliness. CONCLUSIONS: Drawing from the Japanese example, WASH in schools' interventions are suggested to include laws and policies, a designated teacher, and children's participation to sustain both infrastructure and hygiene promotion.

Changes in water treatment, hygiene practices, household floors, and child health in times of Covid-19: A longitudinal cross-sectional survey in Surkhet District, Nepal.

INTRODUCTION: Consistent and effective practice of water treatment, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) behaviour is an indispensable requisite for realizing health improvements among children living in low-income areas with challenging hygienic conditions. Sustainably achieving such a behaviour change is challenging but more likely to be realized during epidemics, when health threats are high and the dissemination of information on preventative measures is intense. Our study conducted cross-sectional surveys in Surkhet District Nepal, before and during the Covid-19 pandemic to assess the impact of water safety interventions and hygiene training implemented before and during the pandemic on WASH conditions and practices and to assess the association of these changes with child health. METHODS: Information on WASH infrastructure, WASH behaviour, nutrition, and child health, including on parasitic infections, was obtained before and during the Covid-19 pandemic in spring 2018 and spring 2021, from 589 children aged between 6 months and 10 years and their caregivers. Data was collected through quantitative, structured face-to-face interviews, observations, health examinations of children including anthropometric measurements, analysis of children's stool, and water quality analysis. The association of changes in WASH factors with changes in child health was analysed using multivariate generalized estimating equations for repeated measures. RESULTS: Water safety management was significantly improved by the introduction of chlorination to piped water supply systems, which served 40% of households. In addition, the percentage of households using a ceramic water filter increased from 12.2% to 34.8%. Large and significant changes were observed in handwashing behaviour (frequency, use of soap and washing at critical times) and infrastructure: 35% of households constructed a new handwashing station. Kitchen and household hygiene also improved. An additional 22% of households improved the cleanliness of the toilet. The number of houses with a cemented floor increased by 20%. WASH changes were significantly associated with improved child health: the chlorination of piped water supply reduced odds ratios for diarrhoea (OR = 0.36, 95% CI = 0.15-0.88, p = 0.025), respiratory difficulties (OR = 0.39, 95% CI = 0.16-0.92, p = 0.033), fever (OR = 0.42, 95% CI = 0.26-0.71, p = 0.001) and cough (OR = 0.58, 95% CI = 0.36-0.93, p = 0.024), and. The frequency of handwashing with soap was associated with significantly reduced odds ratios for infections with Giardia lamblia (OR = 0.68, 95% CI = 0.50-0.91, p = 0.011), stunting and wasting (OR = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.66-0.92, p = 0.003) and fever (OR = 0.85, 95% CI = 0.75-0.96, p = 0.008),. The presence of a handwashing station at baseline was associated with significantly reduced odds ratios for respiratory difficulties (OR = 0.45, 95% CI = 0.26-0.78, p = 0.004). The construction of a handwashing station between baseline and endline was significantly associated with reduced odds ratios for pale conjunctiva (OR = 0.32, 95% CI = 0.17-0.60, p < 0.001), which is a clinical sign of iron deficiency and anaemia, respiratory difficulties (OR = 0.39, 95% CI = 0.17-0.89, p = 0.026) and cough (OR = 0.44, 95% CI = 0.26-0.76, p = 0.003). Using a clean container for the transport of drinking water was significantly associated with reduced odds ratios for infections with Giardia lamblia (OR = 0.39, 95% CI = 0.16-0.93, p = 0.033) and diarrhoea (OR = 0.48, 95% CI = 0.24-0.96, p = 0.038). Similarly, a cemented floor in the household was significantly associated with reduced odd ratios for diarrhoea (OR = 0.38, 95% CI = 0.16-0.87, p = 0.022) and infections with Giardia lamblia (OR = 0.44, 95% CI = 0.19-1.02, p = 0.056). CONCLUSION: WASH training and the promotion of preventative measures during the Covid-19 pandemic supported improved water safety management and hygiene behaviour, which resulted in a reduction in infectious diseases among children in the study area.

Personal and Household Hygiene Measures for Preventing Upper Respiratory Tract Infections among Children: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Parental Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices.

Personal and household hygiene measures are important for preventing upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) and other infectious diseases, including coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). An online survey recruited 414 eligible parents in Hong Kong to study their hygiene knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) regarding the prevention of URTIs among their children. The average knowledge score was high (10.2/12.0), but some misconceptions were identified. The majority of the participants agreed that good personal hygiene (93.5%) and good environmental hygiene (92.8%) can prevent URTIs. The average score for hand hygiene practices was high (3.78/4.00), but only 56.8% of the parents always performed hand hygiene before touching their mouths, noses, or eyes. In terms of environmental hygiene, only some household items were disinfected with disinfectants (door handles in 69.8% of the households, toilet seats in 60.4% of the households, the floor in 42.8% of the households, dining chairs in 24.2% of the households, and dining tables in 20.5% of the households). A higher knowledge score was associated with parents having tertiary educational levels or above, working as healthcare professionals, living in private residential flats or staff quarters, or having household incomes of HKD 70,000 or above. The results of multiple regression analyses also indicated that parents who were healthcare professionals and with higher household income had a better parental knowledge of hygiene measures after adjusting the attitude score. For hand hygiene, parents who achieved higher attitude scores obtained higher practice scores. Under the fifth wave of the COVID-19 epidemic, there were some misconceptions regarding hygiene among parents. Any health promotion program should target parents regarding taking proper personal and household hygienic measures, especially for those who had relatively lower socio-economic status and/or from a non-healthcare background. Motivating attitudes toward hand hygiene can lead to better practices.

New frontiers in healthcare environmental hygiene: thoughts from the 2022 healthcare cleaning forum.

Healthcare environmental hygiene (HEH) has become recognized as being increasingly important for patient safety and the prevention of healthcare-associated infections. At the 2022 Healthcare Cleaning Forum at Interclean in Amsterdam, the academic lectures focused on a series of main areas of interest. These areas are indicative of some of the main trends and avenues for research in the coming years. Both industry and academia need to take steps to continue the momentum of HEH as we transition out of the acute phase of the Covid-19 pandemic. There is a need for new ways to facilitate collaboration between the academic and private sectors. The Clean Hospitals® network was presented in the context of the need for both cross-disciplinarity and evidence-based interventions in HEH. Governmental bodies have also become more involved in the field, and both the German DIN 13603 standard and the UK NHS Cleaning Standards were analyzed and compared. The challenge of environmental pathogens was explored through the example of how P. aeruginosa persists in the healthcare environment. New innovations in HEH were presented, from digitalization to tracking, and automated disinfection to antimicrobial surfaces. The need for sustainability in HEH was also explored, focusing on the burden of waste, the need for a circular economy, and trends towards increasingly local provision of goods and services. The continued focus on and expansion of these areas of HEH will result in safer patient care and contribute to better health systems.