Abstract Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was predominantly a hospital-acquired organism; recently, however, community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA) has been causing outbreaks in otherwise healthy individuals involved in athletics. As such, CA-MRSA is of emerging concern to sanitarians and public health officials. Secondary school athletic trainers and student …
Abstract House dust mite allergen exposure is a postulated risk factor for allergic sensitization, asthma development, and asthma morbidity; however, practical and effective methods to mitigate these allergens from low-income, urban home environments remain elusive. The purpose of this study was to assess the …
Particle pollution (also called particulate matter or PM) is the term for a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets found in the air. Some particles, such as dust, dirt, soot, or smoke, are large or dark enough to be seen with the naked eye. …
A study designed to assess the allergen-containing abilities of vacuum cleaners and vacuum filters conducted by the University of Virginia Asthma and Allergic Diseases Center has shown that sufferers may benefit from using vacuums with multi-layer micro-filtration bags. The study report entitled, “Assessment of Vacuum …
Research conducted at the University of Southampton has paved the way for a hospital trial that has shown that surfaces made with materials that contain copper kill a wide range of potentially harmful microorganisms – significantly reducing the number of these organisms that can come …
We developed a new method using an invisible fluorescent marker to target standardized high‐touch surfaces in hospital rooms. Evaluation of 1404 surface objects in 157 rooms in 3 hospitals revealed that 47% of targets had been cleaned. Educational interventions were implemented, leading to sustained improvement …
A recent report published for the Infectious Diseases Society of America claims that norovirus infection outbreaks are a commonplace occurrence in enclosed environments or populations, such as those found on cruise ships. Such outbreaks have been linked to improper and inadequate cleaning practices. To verify …
British researchers claim that improper use of disinfectant wipes in medical and health care facilities may do more harm than good. These wipes might be disseminating drug-resistant organisms instead of removing or destroying them. Studies of two Welsh hospitals’ intensive care units indicated that cleaning …
A study by Cardiff University’s Welsh School of Pharmacy looked into the ability of antimicrobial-surface wipes to remove, kill and prevent the spread of such infections as MRSA. They found that current protocols utilized by hospital staff have the potential to spread pathogens after only …
Background Norovirus infection outbreaks (NoVOs) occur frequently in closed populations, such as cruise ship passengers. Environmental contamination is believed to play an important role in NoVO propagation. Methods Trained health care professionals covertly evaluated the thoroughness of disinfection cleaning (TDC) of 6 standardized …