scholarly journals Hygienic Practices and Structural Conditions of the Food Processing Premises Were the Main Drivers of Microbiological Quality of Edible Ice Products in Binh Phuoc Province, Vietnam 2019

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 117863022092972
Author(s):  
Tran Thi Tuyet Hanh ◽  
Mac Huy Hanh

Background: Ice is used in large quantities as refreshment in alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages, especially in summer time. Contamination of edible ice products with pathogens is a public health concern in various countries, including Vietnam. This study aimed to assess the food safety conditions, the quality of edible ice products and related factors at manufacturing premises in Binh Phuoc Province, Vietnam in 2019. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2019 using both quantitative and qualitative methods. Food safety assessment was carried out in all 45 ice producing premises in the province and 79 ice samples were collected and analyzed microbiologically. In-depth interviews were conducted with 2 food safety management staff, 4 owners of premises, and 4 workers. Results: Only 22.4% (18/79) and 37.8% (30/79) of the premises met requirement for food safety conditions and microbiological food safety requirements, respectively. Half of the ice samples, 51.9% (41/79), were contaminated, 49.4% (39/79) with Escherichia coli and 12.7% (10/79) with total coliforms. Streptococci, Pseudomonas aeruginosa were not detected. The major risks were material, odds ratio (OR) = 4.2 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.002-17.6), structural challenges in the facilities, OR = 4.3 (95% CI: 1.13-16.7), broken floors or difficulty in cleaning, OR = 5.4 (95% CI: 1.26-22.9), and poor staff hygiene practices, OR = 19.5 (95% CI: 4.2-91.1). Workers lacked knowledge and appropriate practices to prevent microbial contamination of ice products. Conclusions: The food safety conditions and the quality of ice cubes at manufacturing premises in Binh Phuoc Province were not acceptable. Hygiene deficiencies in ice producing and handling processes, inadequate knowledge of staff, inadequate food safety management practices, and hygiene conditions of the premises were important factors in producing contaminated ice products. We recommend more staff training and crediting the staff when performing adequate practices, paying attention to broken floors or difficulty in cleaning, structural deficiency, and ensuring regular monitoring of premises. This study adds a special interest to ensure food safety conditions at ice producing premises to prevent microbial contamination of the products.

BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. e037708
Author(s):  
Ira Helena Saarinen ◽  
Jaana-Maija Koivisto ◽  
Antti Kaipia ◽  
Elina Haavisto

ObjectiveTo study if patient-related factors are associated with patient-evaluated quality of care in surgery. To examine if there is an association with postoperative complications and patient-evaluated low quality of care.DesignA correlation cross-sectional study, in addition, a phone call interview at 30 days postoperatively to examine complications.SettingThe data on patients admitted for non-cardiac general and orthopaedic surgery at a central hospital in Southwestern Finland were collected in two phases during an 8-month period.Participants436 consecutive consenting and eligible in-ward non-cardiac general surgery and orthopaedic surgery adult patients. Ambulatory, paediatric and memory disorder patients were excluded. 378 patients completed the questionnaire (Good Nursing Care Scale for Patients (GNCS-P)).MethodsPerceived quality of care was examined by the GNCS-P questionnaire. Patient-related factors were obtained from electronic patient records and questionnaire. A telephone interview related to postdischarge complications was conducted 30 days after discharge.Main outcome measuresPatient evaluation of quality of care at discharge, its association with patient-related factors and patient-reported postdischarge complications.ResultsThe overall quality was evaluated high or very high by the patients. The lowest overall quality of care rate was assessed by surgical patients living alone (p=0.0088) and patients who evaluated their state of health moderate or poor (p=0.0047). Surgical patients reporting postoperative complications after discharge evaluated lower overall quality of care (p=0.0105) than patients with no complications.ConclusionPatient demographic factors do not seem to influence the perceptions of the quality of care. Instead, subjective state of health and living conditions (living alone) may have an influence on the patient experience of quality of care. The perceived quality of care in healthcare staff technical and communication skills may have an association with reported postoperative complications.


2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Caitlin Decina ◽  
Olaf Berke ◽  
Nienke van Staaveren ◽  
Christine F. Baes ◽  
Tina M. Widowski ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Feather damage (FD) resulting from feather pecking remains a concern in non-cage housing systems for laying hens worldwide. This study aimed to identify bird-, housing-, and management-related factors associated with FD in non-cage housing systems as the egg production sector phases out the conventional cage system in Canada. A survey on housing and management practices was developed and distributed to 122 laying hen farms where 39 respondents provided information on non-cage flocks. Farmers visually assessed 50 birds throughout the barn for FD using a 0–2 scoring scale according to severity. Prevalence of FD was calculated as the percentage of birds with any form of FD (score > 0). Multivariable linear regression modeling was used to identify factors associated with FD prevalence. Results Six variables were included in the final model and accounted for 64% of the variation in FD between farms. FD prevalence was higher with increasing flock age (0.9% ± 0.29) and when birds were housed in all wire/slatted barns compared with all litter barns (37.6% ± 13.1). Additionally, FD prevalence tended to be higher in barns with manure removal only after depopulation (20.1% ± 10.70). Enrichment also tended to be associated with higher FD (19.1% ± 8.04), possibly indicating that it was provided after FD was observed as a control measure, or, was not efficient in reducing the development of FD. Conclusions These findings emphasize the role of litter provision and management (e.g., manure removal effects on air quality), and its potential impact on FD among laying hens in non-cage housing systems in Canada. Further longitudinal and/or intervention studies are needed to assess the potential of the identified factors to function as a management strategy to prevent or reduce FD in non-cage housed laying hens.


2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 70-78
Author(s):  
Taysi Seemann ◽  
Fernanda Pozzobom ◽  
Melissa de Carvalho Souza Vieira ◽  
Leonessa Boing ◽  
Zenite Machado ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective: to evaluate the prevalence of symptoms of depression among men diagnosed with prostate cancer and their association with quality of life and treatment-related factors. Methods: a cross-sectional study of 85 men with a mean age of 66±8 years who were diagnosed with prostate cancer was performed. The survey was based on a questionnaire with previously validated instruments which investigated social, demographic and economic characteristics, the history of the disease, quality of life (European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Questionnaire C30 - EORTC QLQ-C30 / QLQ-PR25) and symptoms of depression (Beck Depression Inventory). The presence of symptoms of depression was considered an outcome, and statistical analyzes were performed using the Chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, Mann Whitney U test and Poisson regression (p<0.05). Results: significant results were found for quality of life in relation to symptoms of depression in the functional, global and symptomatic health scale (p<0.001). This demonstrates that the presence of symptoms of depression is related to a negative quality of life. Conclusions: for a greater understanding of prostate cancer and its consequences on the quality of life of patients it is important to consider possible disorders in psychological aspects caused by the illness, as symptoms of depression are frequent in patients undergoing treatment for prostate cancer.


2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 114-121
Author(s):  
Mohammad Reza Tamadon ◽  
Sajad Hasani ◽  
Ensieh Farhidzadeh ◽  
Majid Mirmohammadkhani

Introduction: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) in advanced stages leads to some changes in lifestyle, health status, and personal functioning and consequently affects the patients’ quality of life. Objectives: Given the high prevalence of CKD in the country, this study aimed to determine quality of life and its related factors in this group of patients. Since there has been low focus on quality of life in pre-dialysis stage, this study compared the two groups of pre-dialysis and hemodialysis patients regarding quality of life. Patients and Methods: This descriptive analytical research was conducted as a cross-sectional study. Using convenience sampling method, we selected a total of 60 kidney failure patients in pre-dialysis stage that referred to nephrology clinics in Semnan and 60 hemodialysis patients who referred to the dialysis center of Kosar hospital in Semnan. Using SF-36 questionnaire and a demographic form, the required data was collected via interviews. Results: The results showed that the majority of patients had a moderate quality of life. Concerning demographic variables, quality of life had a significant relationship with age, gender, marital status, number of children, employment status, education level, income level, hemoglobin, underlying disease, duration of disease, and duration of dialysis. Moreover, patients in pre-dialysis stage had a better score than hemodialysis patients regarding the overall quality of life (P≤0.05). Conclusion: This study showed, a design a framework for care services provided by medical staffs and supports provided by insurance organizations and other institutions is necessary. The framework must help to improve quality of life of patients and prevent the deterioration of quality of life in advanced stages of the disease.


Author(s):  
Gilber Kask ◽  
Jussi P. Repo ◽  
Erkki J. Tukiainen ◽  
Carl Blomqvist ◽  
Ian Barner-Rasmussen

Abstract Background Few studies have focused on patient-related factors in analyzing long-term functional outcome and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with postoperative lower extremity soft tissue sarcoma (STS). Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate factors associated with postoperative functional outcome and HRQoL in patients with lower extremity STS. Methods This cross-sectional study was performed in a tertiary referral center using the Toronto Extremity Salvage Score (TESS), Quality-of-Life Questionnaire (QLQ)-C30 and 15 Dimension (15D) measures. Functional outcome and HRQoL data were collected prospectively. All patients were treated by a multidisciplinary team according to a written treatment protocol. Results A total of 141 patients who had undergone limb-salvage surgery were included. Depending on the outcome measure used, 19–51% of patients were completely asymptomatic and 13–14% of patients had an unimpaired HRQoL. The mean score for TESS, 15D mobility score, and QLQ-C30 Physical Functioning scale were 86, 0.83, and 75, respectively, while the mean score for 15D was 0.88, and 73 for QLQ-C30 QoL. Lower functional outcome was statistically significantly associated with higher age, higher body mass index (BMI), and the need for reconstructive surgery and radiotherapy, while lower HRQoL was statistically significantly associated with higher age, higher BMI, and reconstructive surgery. Conclusion Functional outcome and HRQoL were generally high in this cross-sectional study of patients with STS in the lower extremity. Both tumor- and treatment-related factors had an impact but patient-related factors such as age and BMI were the major determinants of both functional outcome and HRQoL.


Author(s):  
Ayda Arian ◽  
Elahe Alizadeh ◽  
Navid Mazroii ◽  
Reza Sharafati Chaleshtori

Background: Lime juice is a nutritious drink, which is generally consumed for its' refreshing properties, nutritive value, vitamin content, and health benefits. Therefore, the chemical and microbiological quality of the traditional and industrial lime juice produced in Kashan city was assessed. Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, a total of 106 samples were collected and screened for total soluble solid (TSS), pH, acidic value, protein content, mold, yeast, and count of acid-tolerant bacteria according to the Institute of Standards and Industrial Research of Iran (ISIRI). Results: Of the total samples, 66 samples (62.26%) were within the Iran’s national standard range. Most samples that did not meet the national standard requirements, were related to traditional samples (70.24%) compared to industrial samples (31.82%, P < 0.001). No significant difference was found between pH and protein of traditional and industrial lime juice samples (P > 0.05), while TSS and acidic values in traditional lime juices were less than those of the industrial lime juice (P < 0.05). Additionally, the mold and yeast contaminations in traditional lime juices were more than industrial lime juices (P < 0.05). Conclusion: In overall, traditional lime juice samples had the most microbial and chemical contaminations. It is necessary to increase the regular monitoring by relevant organizations over quality of the produced lime juices.


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