scholarly journals Investigating awareness, fear and control associated with norovirus and other pathogens and pollutants using best–worst scaling

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kata Farkas ◽  
Emma Green ◽  
Dan Rigby ◽  
Paul Cross ◽  
Sean Tyrrel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Foodborne Pathogens ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Risk Mitigation ◽  
Terrorist Attack ◽  
Gastrointestinal Diseases ◽  
Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Best Worst Scaling ◽  
Important Health ◽  
Health Need ◽  
Levels Of Control

AbstractPollutants found in the water and air environment represent an ever-growing threat to human health. Contact with some air-, water- and foodborne pathogens (e.g. norovirus) results in gastrointestinal diseases and outbreaks. For future risk mitigation, we aimed to measure people’s awareness of waterborne and foodborne norovirus relative to other environment-associated pollutants (e.g. pesticides, bioaerosols, antibiotic resistant bacteria) and well-known risks (e.g. diabetes, dementia, terrorist attack). We used an online survey, which included a best–worst scaling component to elicit personal levels of control and fear prompted by norovirus relative to 15 other risks. There was a negative correlation between levels of fear vs. control for all 16 measured risks. Perceived infection control levels were higher amongst women compared to men and correlated with age and the level of qualification in both groups. Participants who had sought advice regarding the symptoms caused by norovirus appeared to have more control over the risks. Norovirus is associated with high levels of fear, however, the levels of control over it is low compared to other foodborne illnesses, e.g. Salmonella. Addressing this deficit in the public’s understanding of how to control exposure to the pathogen in an important health need.

scholarly journals A Choice Based Experiment of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA): A Valuation of Attributes

2018 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiushuo Yu ◽  
Ben Campbell ◽  
Yizao Liu ◽  
Jiff Martin
Keyword(s):  
Willingness To Pay ◽  
Choice Experiment ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Risk Mitigation ◽  
Consumer Preference ◽  
Community Supported Agriculture ◽  
Organic Products

Community-supported agriculture (CSA) operators are becoming more innovative in their efforts to attract consumers to become CSA shareholders. Therefore, CSA operators must understand which attributes consumers value. Using an online survey of Connecticut consumers in conjunction with a choice experiment, we evaluate consumer preference and willingness to pay for various attributes, including risk mitigation. We find younger consumers are more likely to prefer CSAs with organic products, while a greater diversity of products in the CSA share will increase preference for a CSA for some consumers. Further, we find that consumers with and without CSA experience value the risk-mitigation attribute.

scholarly journals Prevalence of Multidrug-Resistant Foodborne Pathogens and Indicator Bacteria from Edible Offal and Muscle Meats in Nashville, Tennessee

Foods ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 1190
Author(s):  
Siqin Liu ◽  
Agnes Kilonzo-Nthenge ◽  
Samuel N. Nahashon ◽  
Bharat Pokharel ◽  
Abdullah Ibn Mafiz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Foodborne Pathogens ◽  
Salmonella Enterica ◽  
Ground Beef ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Indicator Bacteria ◽  
Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Antibiotic Resistant ◽  
Beef Liver ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Retail Meats

This study investigated the prevalence of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria in retail edible offal and muscle meats in Nashville, Tennessee. A total of 348 retail meats (160 edible offal and 188 muscle) were analyzed for Salmonella enterica serovar, Campylobacter, Escherichia coli, E. coli O157:H7, and enterococci. Bacteria was identified using biochemical and PCR methods. Salmonella enterica serovar (4.4% and 4.3%), Campylobacter (1.9% and 1.1%), E. coli (79.4% and 89.4%), and enterococci (88.1% and 95.7%) was detected in offal and muscle meats, respectively. Chicken liver (9.7%) was most frequently contaminated with Salmonella enterica serovar, followed by ground chicken (6.9%) and chicken wings (4.2%). No Salmonella enterica serovar was detected in beef liver, beef tripe, and ground beef. The prevalence of Campylobacter was 6.9%, 2.3%, and 1.4% in beef liver, ground beef, and ground chicken, respectively. None of the meats were positive for E. coli O157:H7. Resistance of isolates was significantly (p < 0.05) highest in erythromycin (98.3%; 99.1%), followed by tetracycline (94%; 98.3%), vancomycin (88.8%; 92.2%) as compared to chloramphenicol (43.1%; 53.9%), amoxicillin/clavulanic (43.5%; 45.7%), and ciprofloxacin (45.7%; 55.7%) in offal and muscle meats, respectively. Imipenem showed the lowest resistance (0%; 0.9%). A total of 41 multidrug-resistant patterns were displayed. Edible offal could be a source of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

scholarly journals Dogs and Their Owners Have Frequent and Intensive Contact

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (12) ◽  
pp. 4300 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip Joosten ◽  
Alexia Van Cleven ◽  
Steven Sarrazin ◽  
Dominique Paepe ◽  
An De Sutter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Online Survey ◽  
Physical Contact ◽  
Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Multivariable Model ◽  
Pet Owners ◽  
Intensity Score ◽  
Resistance Transfer ◽  
The Face ◽  
The City ◽  
City Village

Contact and interactions between owners and their pets may have beneficial physical and social effects on people, but may also facilitate the transmission of zoonotic agents and resistant bacteria. To estimate the risk of these contacts, more information regarding the frequency and intensity of this physical contact is required. Therefore, an online survey was conducted among pet owners resulting in 701 completed questionnaires. Questions regarding the interactions between dogs and owners were linked with a score from 1 (limited interactions) to 3 (highly intense interactions). After scoring these self-reported interactions, a contact intensity score was calculated for each respondent by summing up the different allocated scores from all questions. This contact intensity score was used to identify predictors of more intense contact based on a multivariable linear regression model. Interactions between dogs and their owners were widespread (e.g., 85.3% of the dogs licked their owner’s hand) and intense (e.g., 49.3% of owners reported being licked in the face). The gender, age, and place of residence (city, village, or countryside) of the respondent, together with the size and age of the dog, were significantly associated with the contact intensity score in the multivariable model. On average, female respondents younger than 65 years who lived in the city and had a small young dog had the most intense contact with it. Further research is necessary to evaluate the risk of these interactions in light of zoonotic and antimicrobial resistance transfer.

scholarly journals Antimicrobial Activity of Five Apitoxins from Apis mellifera on Two Common Foodborne Pathogens

Antibiotics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 367
Author(s):  
Alexandre Lamas ◽  
Vicente Arteaga ◽  
Patricia Regal ◽  
Beatriz Vázquez ◽  
José Manuel Miranda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Activity ◽  
Foodborne Pathogens ◽  
Food Chain ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Inhibitory Concentration ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Public Health Challenges ◽  
Alternative Agent ◽  
Potential Alternative

Antimicrobial resistance is one of today’s major public health challenges. Infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria have been responsible for an increasing number of deaths in recent decades. These resistant bacteria are also a concern in the food chain, as bacteria can resist common biocides used in the food industry and reach consumers. As a consequence, the search for alternatives to common antimicrobials by the scientific community has intensified. Substances obtained from nature have shown great potential as new sources of antimicrobial activity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of five bee venoms, also called apitoxins, against two common foodborne pathogens. A total of 50 strains of the Gram-negative pathogen Salmonella enterica and 8 strains of the Gram-positive pathogen Listeria monocytogenes were tested. The results show that the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values were highly influenced by the bacterial genus. The MIC values ranged from 256 to 1024 µg/mL in S. enterica and from 16 to 32 µg/mL in L. monocytogenes. The results of this study demonstrate that apitoxin is a potential alternative agent against common foodborne pathogens, and it can be included in the development of new models to inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria in the food chain.

A Conceptual Framework for Assessing the Potential of Ocean Mining Sites

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hany Elosta ◽  
Shiliang Shan ◽  
Nicole L. Kudla ◽  
Kyung-Kyu Yang
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Hydrothermal Vents ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Risk Mitigation ◽  
Mining Industry ◽  
Economic Feasibility ◽  
Mining Sites ◽  
Mining Project ◽  
Ocean Mining

Ocean mining is considered to be the new offshore frontier and has been the center of research and commercial focus over the past few years. The further development of the ocean mining industry posts challenges in many fields including engineering, economics, environment, law, logistics and supply chain. This research aims to understand the challenges and link these fields by developing a framework for assessing the potential of ocean mining sites. Seabed resources and associated exploration and exploitation technologies are reviewed. Based on this review, it identifies the most promising ocean mining sites, the massive sulphide deposits in inactive hydrothermal vents, along the oceanic ridge in the Exclusive Economic Zone. An online survey is conducted to obtain a broader academic and industrial view on ocean mining. The world’s first commercial ocean mining project developed by Nautilus Minerals Inc. is also analyzed as a case study. Based on the seabed resources review, online survey and case study, the major challenges in ocean mining are presented, covering engineering systems, environmental risk mitigation, economic feasibility, law, logistics and supply chain.

Identification With Terrorist Attack Victims: Association With Television Viewing and Prior Life Threat

2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 337-344 ◽  
Author(s):  
Holly B. Herberman Mash ◽  
Carol S. Fullerton ◽  
K. Nikki Benevides ◽  
Robert J. Ursano
Keyword(s):  
Online Survey ◽  
Television Viewing ◽  
Terrorist Attack ◽  
Female Gender ◽  
Parental Status ◽  
Washington Dc ◽  
Past Life ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
Life Threat ◽  
Terrorist Event

AbstractObjectiveA series of sniper attacks in the Washington, DC, area left 10 people dead and 3 wounded. We developed and tested a model that examined the unique and interdependent relationships of sniper-related television viewing, prior life-threatening events, and parental status to identification with attack victims.MethodsParticipants were 1238 residents of the DC area (aged 18-90 years, mean=41.7 years; 51% female; 68% white) who completed an online survey that assessed identification with sniper attack victims, amount of television viewing, and prior life-threatening events. Identification was measured by using a previously developed scale that assessed to what extent participants identified victims as similar to themselves, a friend, or a family member.ResultsThe relationship of television viewing to identification was examined by using multivariate linear regression analyses. In univariate analyses, female gender, having children, higher levels of television viewing, and past life-threatening events were independently related to greater identification. After adjustment for demographics and life-threatening events, sniper-related television viewing continued to be associated with identification (B=0.61, P≤0.001, ∆R2=0.07). Examination of the interactions of television viewing by parental status and television viewing by life-threatening event revealed significant relationships.ConclusionsAttention to events preceding and during a terrorist event could help in the recognition of those at particular risk for increased identification with attack victims. These findings also have implications for recommendations for media exposure during an event. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2018; 12: 337–344)

scholarly journals The Pomegranate: Effects on Bacteria and Viruses That Influence Human Health

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy B. Howell ◽  
Doris H. D'Souza
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Activity ◽  
Foodborne Pathogens ◽  
Clinical Results ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Antimicrobial Activities ◽  
Oral Bacteria ◽  
Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Wide Range

Pomegranates have been known for hundreds of years for their multiple health benefits, including antimicrobial activity. The recent surge in multidrug-resistant bacteria and the possibility of widespread global virus pandemics necessitate the need for additional preventative and therapeutic options to conventional drugs. Research indicates that pomegranates and their extracts may serve as natural alternatives due to their potency against a wide range of bacterial and viral pathogens. Nearly every part of the pomegranate plant has been tested for antimicrobial activities, including the fruit juice, peel, arils, flowers, and bark. Many studies have utilized pomegranate peel with success. There are various phytochemical compounds in pomegranate that have demonstrated antimicrobial activity, but most of the studies have found that ellagic acid and larger hydrolyzable tannins, such as punicalagin, have the highest activities. In some cases the combination of the pomegranate constituents offers the most benefit. The positive clinical results on pomegranate and suppression of oral bacteria are intriguing and worthy of further study. Much of the evidence for pomegranates’ antibacterial and antiviral activities against foodborne pathogens and other infectious disease organisms comes fromin vitrocell-based assays, necessitating further confirmation ofin vivoefficacy through human clinical trials.

scholarly journals Opinions and preferences of British Columbia pharmacists and physicians on medication management services

2016 ◽  
Vol 150 (1) ◽  
pp. 42-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole W. Tsao ◽  
Amir Khakban ◽  
Louise Gastonguay ◽  
Zafar Zafari ◽  
Larry D. Lynd ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
British Columbia ◽  
Medication Management ◽  
Medication Use ◽  
Relative Strength ◽  
Routine Practice ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Strength Of Preference ◽  
Best Worst Scaling ◽  
Important Health

Background: Medication management (MM) services are being provided by pharmacists across Canada in various forms, but pharmacist-physician collaboration is still not a routine practice in most jurisdictions. This survey aimed to gather pharmacists’ and physicians’ opinions and preferences for MM provision. Methods: Two parallel, cross-sectional online surveys, including best-worst scaling tasks, were designed for pharmacists and physicians in British Columbia to capture and compare their preferences for a number of attributes of MM. Results: Surveys were completed by 119 pharmacists and 146 physicians. Results indicate that pharmacists and physicians had similar opinions on many aspects of MM. Ninety-five percent of pharmacists and 69% of physicians believed that additional health services are needed to help patients optimize the use of their medications. However, the majority of each group felt that they were the most important health care professional in providing this service. Most pharmacists (79%) and some physicians (25%) thought that optimizing use of medications would result in both decreased costs and utilization to the health care system. Both pharmacists and physicians felt that the best attribute of an MM service would be if the services resulted in improved health and medication use for patients. Both groups were motivated by increased remuneration for MM; however, the relative strength of preference for this was higher among physicians. Interestingly, physicians valued improved medication adherence as a result of MM more highly than pharmacists did. Discussion and Conclusion: Most pharmacists and physicians agreed that improving patients’ health and medication use would be the best attribute of MM and that there is a need for such services. However, physicians also had strong preferences for being remunerated for participating in MM provision.

scholarly journals Bacteriocins: Potential for Human Health

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-17
Author(s):  
Fuqing Huang ◽  
Kunling Teng ◽  
Yayong Liu ◽  
Yanhong Cao ◽  
Tianwei Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Health ◽  
Foodborne Pathogens ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Therapeutic Agents ◽  
Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Antimicrobial Compounds ◽  
Food Preservatives ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Global Threat ◽  
Therapeutic Activities

Due to the challenges of antibiotic resistance to global health, bacteriocins as antimicrobial compounds have received more and more attention. Bacteriocins are biosynthesized by various microbes and are predominantly used as food preservatives to control foodborne pathogens. Now, increasing researches have focused on bacteriocins as potential clinical antimicrobials or immune-modulating agents to fight against the global threat to human health. Given the broad- or narrow-spectrum antimicrobial activity, bacteriocins have been reported to inhibit a wide range of clinically pathogenic and multidrug-resistant bacteria, thus preventing the infections caused by these bacteria in the human body. Otherwise, some bacteriocins also show anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and immune-modulatory activities. Because of the safety and being not easy to cause drug resistance, some bacteriocins appear to have better efficacy and application prospects than existing therapeutic agents do. In this review, we highlight the potential therapeutic activities of bacteriocins and suggest opportunities for their application.

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