Search Results (5)

The transmission of infectious diseases via the use of public restrooms has been previously documented. The goal of this study was to compare bacterial contamination in public vs. household restrooms and, using quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA), to assess the probability of infection from fomite contact with selected high-touch sites within the restrooms. Fomite surfaces in four public and four household restrooms were sampled over a period of two months. The public restrooms were in an office building occupied by 80 individuals and were considered moderate usage. The toilet seat, toilet flush handle, countertops, and floor were sampled for heterotrophic, coliform, and Escherichia coli bacteria. The highest numbers of heterotrophic bacteria and coliforms were detected on the countertops, followed by the floor. The greatest numbers of E. coli were recovered from the countertops in the household restroom, but the greatest numbers in the public restroom were recovered from the toilet flush handle. Numbers of heterotrophic bacteria and coliforms were 10 to 100 times greater in household restrooms than in public restrooms. The QMRA suggested that the greatest risk of acquiring a norovirus infection involved the touching of the countertops in household restrooms and the toilet flush handles in public restrooms. Full article

The protective effect of COVID-19 vaccination for contact persons is controversial. Therefore, the aim of this review was to determine whether COVID-19 vaccination provides significant protection for them. A PubMed search was carried out using the terms “unvaccinated vaccinated covid” in combination with “viral load” and “transmission”. Studies were included if they reported original comparative data on the SARS-CoV-2 viral load, duration of SARS-CoV-2 detection, or SARS-CoV-2 transmission rates. A total of 332 articles were identified, of which 68 were included and analyzed. The differences in the viral load were equivocal in 57% of the 35 studies, significantly lower in the vaccinated in 11 studies and in the unvaccinated in 3 studies. The infectious virus levels were significantly lower in the vaccinated in two out of six studies. Virus clearance was significantly faster in vaccinated subjects in two of eight studies (detection of viral RNA) and two of four studies (detection of infectious virus). The secondary attack rates were significantly lower in vaccinated index cases in 6 of 15 studies. The vaccination status of contacts was described in two of the six studies and was 31.8% and 39.9% lower in households with an unvaccinated index case. The inconsistent and variable differences in the viral load, viral clearance and secondary attack rates between vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals, especially during the omicron predominance, suggests that COVID-19 vaccination is unlikely to prevent a relevant proportion of transmissions to contact persons, taking into account the relevance of the immunological status of the contact population (vaccination rates and previous infection). Full article

Over the past two centuries since its independence in 1847, Liberia has made significant progress in building an integrated public health system designed to serve its population. Despite a prolonged period of civil conflict (1990–2003) and the emergence of the 2014–2016 Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) that crippled its already weakened health system, Liberia was able to re-emerge, making significant strides and gains in rebuilding and strengthening its health infrastructure and systems. Lessons learnt from the EVD epidemic have led to developments such as the newly established National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL) and several tertiary public health institutions to meet the growing demands of a skilled workforce equipped to combat existing and emerging health problems and/crisis, including informing the more recent COVID-19 response. This article delineated and documented the historical efforts made towards establishing public health interventions such as infrastructures and systems of the past, and how these structures and systems became the foundation and pillars of the current resilient health system. This paper highlighted some of the key crises and interventions deployed, and some of the historical public health champions, laws, and policies that aided in strengthening the public health systems then and now. It is expected that in addition this paper can be used as a guide for further or future research. Full article

Background: Although the World Health Organization recommends 100% willingness for blood donation, the percentage of blood collected from willing blood donors and the average annual blood collection rate is extremely low in Ethiopia. Adults can serve as an essential pool formeeting the demand of safe blood. Thus, this study is aimed at examining willingness and its associated factors for blood donation among the adult population in Gondar town, Northwest Ethiopia. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted on548 respondents from 1–30 October2021. Multistage sampling techniques were used to select the study participants. The data were collected using an interviewer-administered structured questionnaire. Epi-data version 4.6 and SPSS version 23 software was used for data entry and analysis, respectively. A binary logistic regression (bivariable and multivariable) was performed to identify the statistically significant variables. Results: Less than half, 45.3% (95% CI: 41.4, 49.9), of the study participants hadthe willingness to donate blood. Participants who were renters of their own houses [AOR: 3.19; (95% CI: 2.09, 4.62)], had a history of blood donation practice [AOR: 1.90(95% CI: 1.16, 3.19)], had witnessed blood being donated [AOR: 2.56 (95% CI:1.65, 6.95)], had a history of relatives who have died through blood loss [AOR: 2.28 (95% CI:1.19, 4.36)], and had good knowledge [AOR: 2.23; (95% CI: 1.49, 3.34)] were more willing to donate blood, with these factors being the significant predictors. Conclusions: Generally, willingness towards blood donation is low in the study area. In order to increase community willingness to donate blood, healthcare providers, national blood banks, and transfusion agencies should design strategies to promote and motivate their communities. In addition to this, participants should receive information on the health benefits of donating blood, the volume of blood donated, and the number of patients benefiting from a single unit of blood donated. Full article

This paper examined why sleep hygiene practices work in some cases and not in others with a focus on non-clinical population. Sleep hygiene rules target lifestyle and environmental factors. Changing sleep-wake routines, avoiding alcohol, caffeine, bright light, and vigorous exercise near bedtime, and improving the sleeping environment (making it darker, quieter, and cooler) should yield a better night’s sleep. However, the factors that predispose to sleeping difficulties are divergent among individuals. Additionally, current sleep hygiene practices fail to consider critical factors that can affect sleep, such as emotional stress (worries, stress, anxiety, anger, and fear); daytime exposure to light (that regulates the sleep-wake cycle); and human’s deep-seated habits where motivating change takes time and may necessitate behavioral therapy. The paper posits that sleep hygiene practices need (1) to be tailored individually, demanding a precision medicine approach, (2) consider negative emotions that can impact sleep and (3) incorporate a behavioral change and a commitment to planned actions for its successful implementation. Further, recommendations are provided to guide future research into sleep hygiene practices. Full article