Throughout written history, the most devastating pandemic illnesses (i.e., pneumonic plague, small pox, inhalation anthrax, tuberculosis, influenza and even chicken pox) were largely spread through the airborne route. These diseases were responsible for more deaths than any wars or other natural disasters. The ever-increasing urbanization …
ATP is the primary energy transfer molecule present in all living biological cells on Earth. ATP cannot be produced or maintained by anything but a living organism, and as such, its measurement is a direct indication of biological activity. For hygiene testing the total ATP …
On the opening leaf of his seminal text on Ecology, Eugene Pleasants Odum wrote: Big fleas have little fleas Upon their backs to bite ’em, And little fleas have lesser fleas, and so, ad infinitum. This little Dutch proverb tells us that there is no …
The process of hard surface disinfecting is an integral component of a comprehensive cleaning protocol. Its use and purpose is twofold: First, to lower the initial bioburden of a contaminated surface and render it “safe”, generally from a public health perspective. Secondly, as a cleaning …
Since my first day as a sanitarian, I have been vexed by the question, “How clean is clean?” Throughout my career the answer to this question has been punctuated by differences of opinion among my public health inspection colleagues, particularly in evaluating food contact surfaces …