scholarly journals Communicable Illness Mitigation Strategies for Traveling Elite Sporting Organizations

2021 ◽  
pp. 194173812110322
Author(s):  
Kathryn D. McElheny ◽  
Dean Little ◽  
David Taylor ◽  
Joseph E. Manzi

Context: Transmission of communicable diseases observed in sporting organizations is often preventable. Early detection, isolation, and treatment can significantly diminish time lost. Until recently, there has been a paucity of standardized guidelines outlining feasible, preventable measures to protect both athletes and staff from contagious illnesses. Therefore, the purpose of this narrative was to highlight optimal prevention practices for transmission mitigation, with a particular focus on hygiene activity and travel considerations in professional sporting organizations. Evidence Acquisition: Current recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and peer-reviewed journals. Study Design: Clinical review. Level of Evidence: Level 5. Results: Communicable illness prevention strategies begin at the level of sufficient personal hygiene practices. Common area surface cleaning recommendations, including shared equipment sanitization between usage as well as designated equipment use to specific athletes, should be considered to minimize cross-contamination, in particular, for liked-position players. Intelligent design for shared areas can include redistributing the layout of communal spaces, most feasibly, spreading locker designation a minimum distance of 6 ft from one another. Travel considerations can include placing most susceptible passengers closest to window seating, boarding last and exiting first. Team physicians should have knowledge of essential personnel medical histories in an effort to risk stratify staff members and players in the setting of communicable disease. Conclusion: Providing a framework for illness management and prevention is important when considering the effects on player health, missed time, performance, and overall cost. Containment of commonly observed communicable illnesses can be optimized with sufficient personal hygiene practices, common area surface cleaning recommendations, intelligent design for shared areas, travel and hotel considerations, as well as appropriate screening tools and isolation techniques. Strength of Recommendation Taxonomy (SORT): B.

Author(s):  
Elden Chan ◽  
BCIT School of Health Sciences, Environmental Health ◽  
Martin MacLeod

  Objective: Swimming pools have potential to create health hazards that range from physical, chemical to biological. Biological concerns center on communicable diseases which can be spread through poor hygiene practices. To prevent the spread of disease, swimmers must be informed and practice appropriate hygiene. This study aims to determine whether the frequency of swimming had an influence on swimming pool hygiene knowledge. Method: Survey questions focusing on risk factors for communicable disease spread, and personal hygiene practices were developed using the pool operation handbooks, input from environmental health instructors at the British Columbia Institute of Technology, as well as past surveys from other studies. Pool patrons were surveyed at Hillcrest Community Centre in Vancouver. Scores from these tests were then analyzed in NCSS9 using one-way ANOVA tests and Two-Sample t-tests. Results: 167 validated surveys were analyzed. The most often incorrectly answered questions were in regards to the duration of avoiding swimming after diarrheal illness, pre-swim hygiene, and after bathroom use hygiene. No statistically significant difference in mean test score was found in individuals that swam more than once a week, more than once a month, or less than once a month. Statistically significant differences in mean test scores were found for individuals that read signs, and age group. Conclusion: From the data, it is observed that those who swam more frequently were not more informed on pool hygiene issues than those who swam less. The sample size (n=167) for this conclusion may be too small, since beta value was 87.5%.  


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Mieth ◽  
Maike M. Mayer ◽  
Adrian Hoffmann ◽  
Axel Buchner ◽  
Raoul Bell

Abstract Background During the COVID-19 pandemic, billions of people have to change their behaviours to slow down the spreading of the virus. Protective measures include self-isolation, social (physical) distancing and compliance with personal hygiene rules, particularly regular and thorough hand washing. Prevalence estimates for the compliance with the COVID-19 measures are often based on direct self-reports. However, during a health crisis there is strong public pressure to comply with health and safety regulations so that people’s responding in direct self-reports may be seriously compromised by social desirability. Methods In an online survey, an indirect questioning technique was used to test whether the prevalence of hygiene practices may be lower than in conventional surveys when confidentiality of responding is guaranteed. The Extended Crosswise Model is an indirect questioning technique that guarantees the confidentiality of responding. To the degree that direct self-reports are biased by social desirability, prevalence estimates of hygiene practices such as thorough hand washing based on the Extended Crosswise Model should be lower than those based on direct self-reports. Results We analysed data of 1434 participants. In the direct questioning group 94.5% of the participants claimed to practice proper hand hygiene; in the indirect questioning group a significantly lower estimate of only 78.1% was observed. Conclusions These results indicate that estimates of the degree of commitment to measures designed to counter the spread of the disease may be significantly inflated by social desirability in direct self-reports. Indirect questioning techniques with higher levels of confidentiality seem helpful in obtaining more realistic estimates of the degree to which people follow the recommended personal hygiene measures. More realistic estimates of compliance can help to inform and to adjust public information campaigns on COVID-19 hygiene recommendations.


2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 133-143
Author(s):  
Che Yon Park ◽  
Hyunjin Cho

Perinatal infection is the leading cause of fetal and neonatal mortality and is directly related to childhood morbidity. Perinatal infections cause abnormal growth, delayed development, and many other clinical problems in newborns. In particular, TORCH syndrome can cause serious fetal and neonatal health problems through vertical infection, and timely diagnosis and treatment through regular antenatal examinations are important. There are no therapeutic options or vaccines for parvovirus or cytomegalovirus. Therefore, prevention is the most important method. In the case of toxoplasmosis, prenatal education is important because it can be prevented through hygiene management, although there are therapeutic drugs. Syphilis has a high prevalence, so early diagnosis is important. Rubella and varicella zoster infections can lead to fatal results in vertical transmission to the fetus. Therefore, preconception vaccination should be performed. Women with herpes simplex, which has a high prevalence in the community, need to be mindful when choosing a childbirth method by evaluating the infection through regular prenatal care to prevent vertical infection. Seasonal flu is rarely transmitted vertically to the fetus, but the morbidity and mortality risk to the mother is higher than that of the general population. Thus, prevention through vaccination is important. Lastly, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection has yet to be well studied, although the mother's morbidity and mortality are similar to those of the general population and there is no evidence of vertical infection. Since the findings of the effects on the mother and fetus are limited, transmission should be prevented through social distancing and personal hygiene practices.


Author(s):  
Lisa Were ◽  
Gertrude Were ◽  
Kevin Omondi Aduol

Street-vended foods are a major threat to public health because of their microbial contamination. This study investigated hygiene practices and microbial contamination of street foods in Kenyatta University’s environs. Both cross-sectional and experimental designs were adopted. Four (4) major vending stalls at the main entrance to Kenyatta University, gate (A) and at the hind gate at KM shopping center were identified for this study. Twelve (12) food samples were collected from these stalls; sausages, samosas and kachumbari. The foods were collected and transported in cooler boxes to the Microbiology Laboratory at Kenyatta University within 3 hours for analyses. Standard microbiological methods were used for enumeration of Salmonella, coliforms and Escherichia coli. No Salmonella was detected per 25g in all food samples tested. Fifty percent (50%) of kachumbari samples tested positive for E.coli whereas samosas and sausages tested negative. Kachumbari, from all vending stalls, had total coliform levels 4.12 log10 cfu/g, 4.26 log10 cfu/g and 4.21 log10 cfu/g, that did not meet the quality standards (4.00 log10 cfu/g) for ready-to-eat foods. Total coliform counts were below detection limits in samosas and sausages. All (100%) the stalls were exposed to potential contaminants: 75% of the vendors did not wear protective clothing, they handled money and sold food simultaneously, and polythene bags exposed to open air, were used for packaging take away rations. All the foods evaluated were safe for human consumption except kachumbari. Policies on safe street food to be enforced and education and training of vendors on environmental and personal hygiene to be strengthened.


2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 931-934
Author(s):  
Aradhana Thakur Thakur ◽  
Uttara Singh

The present study were carried out to assess the hygiene practices and food safety among street food vendors in the city of Chandigarh. It includes 100 samples of vendors.  Fifty vendors were mobile and other 50 was fixed vendors. A self planned questionnaire was used for data collection for the vendors. The questionnaire included questions about demographic information, hygiene practices and food safety. Thirty eight percent of vendors used stalls, but did not uphold their stalls well.  Eighty-three per cent of the vendors had thrown garbage in the open vessel and 14.0% used dustbin for dispose garbage. Personal hygiene was also observed which indicated that the vendors never wear the head covers, handled food with bare hand and they did not wear overcoats/aprons as well. Street food vendors were not aware of hygienic and sanitary practice.


2022 ◽  
pp. 000486742110671
Author(s):  
Anne PF Wand ◽  
Roisin Browne ◽  
Tiffany Jessop ◽  
Carmelle Peisah

Objective: Self-harm is closely associated with suicide in older adults and may provide opportunity to intervene to prevent suicide. This study aimed to systematically review recent evidence for three components of aftercare for older adults: (1) referral pathways, (2) assessment tools and safety planning approaches and (3) engagement and intervention strategies. Methods: Databases PubMed, Medline, PsychINFO, Embase and CINAHL were searched from January 2010 to 10 July 2021 by two reviewers. Empirical studies reporting aftercare interventions for older adults (aged 60+) following self-harm (including with suicidal intent) were included. Full text of articles with abstracts meeting inclusion criteria were obtained and independently reviewed by three authors to determine final studies for review. Two reviewers extracted data and assessed level of evidence (Oxford) and quality ratings (Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research Standard Quality Assessment Criteria for quantitative and Attree and Milton checklist for qualitative studies), working independently. Results: Twenty studies were reviewed (15 quantitative; 5 qualitative). Levels of evidence were low (3, 4), and quality ratings of quantitative studies variable, although qualitative studies rated highly. Most studies of referral pathways were observational and demonstrated marked variation with no clear guidelines or imperatives for community psychiatric follow-up. Of four screening tools evaluated, three were suicide-specific and one screened for depression. An evidence-informed approach to safety planning was described using cases. Strategies for aftercare engagement and intervention included two multifaceted approaches, psychotherapy and qualitative insights from older people who self-harmed, carers and clinicians. The qualitative studies identified targets for improved aftercare engagement, focused on individual context, experiences and needs. Conclusion: Dedicated older-adult aftercare interventions with a multifaceted, assertive follow-up approach accompanied by systemic change show promise but require further evaluation. Research is needed to explore the utility of needs assessment compared to screening and evaluate efficacy of safety planning and psychotherapeutic approaches.


Author(s):  
Michelle Meiring ◽  
Tonya Arscott-Mills

Whilst non-communicable diseases provided the impetus for the development of children’s palliative care (CPC) in the developed world, it was a single communicable illness human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) that was the catalyst for the development of many CPC programmes in the developing world. Whilst considerable gains have been made in preventing and controlling paediatric AIDS globally, there is still benefit to an integrated palliative care approach to the care of these children and especially for those living in countries without access to anti-retrovirals. Furthermore, there are many other communicable diseases associated with significant health-related suffering in children that could benefit from palliative care. This chapter proposes grouping these diseases using the well-known Association for Children with Terminal Conditions (ACT) categorization and discusses examples of important communicable diseases in each category. The need for improved CPC as part of the humanitarian response to acute communicable disease outbreaks such as Ebola virus disease is also explored.


2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 11
Author(s):  
Veronica Akwenabuaye Undelikwo ◽  
Rosemary Ine Eneji ◽  
Eucharia Nwabugo Nwagbara

In 2014 the Ebola virus disease became a significant health challenge in much of West Africa, notably Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, even Nigeria. The Ebola epidemic knows no geographical boundary as both developed and developing countries are susceptible to its menace. Key facts about the disease and what could be done to mitigate its spread were awash in both the print and electronic media at the height of its outbreak. There was increased awareness of personal hygiene practices of constant washing of hands and using hand-sanitizers. Body temperature was checked in public places such as airports, schools, etc. There were hardly anywhere, home or organization that you will not find sanitizers and clean water dispensers for hand-washing strategically stationed. 798 respondents from the University of Calabar (staff and students) were surveyed as well as five key informants for in-depth information on what has become of the healthy hygienic practices, and to determine whether Nigerians are still conscious of Ebola and how to achieve sustained healthy practices even after the epidemic. These preventive practices need to be intensified and sustained to consolidate the gains attained in the fight against the dreaded virus. We found a total decline in safety practices by individuals and organizations and this itself raises a major concern about their repercussions, given the paucity and unpreparedness of healthcare facilities. Worse still, relevant agencies such as the print and electronic media are no longer carrying out the awareness campaign.


2014 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 206 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shriya Ankit Seksaria ◽  
Mini K Sheth

<p>Diarrhoea, a major contributor of childhood morbidity and mortality is mostly caused by poor hygiene and sanitation. Literature reveal that hygiene practices at household levels greatly affects the occurrence of diarrhoea among children. A cross sectional study was conducted to determine association between hygiene knowledge and practices of mothers with occurrence of diarrhoea in young children below 3 years in the tribal villages of Gujarat. Structured questionnaire was used to elicit information on personal hygiene (PH), food Hygiene (FH), and environmental Hygiene (EH) practices of 536 mothers with children between 6-36 months of age. Past one month diarrhoeal episodes were recorded using the recall method. The mean percent scores for FH, PH and EH practices were 77%, 88% and 80% respectively. Almost 35% children suffered from diarrhoea in the past one month of which 10 were admitted to the hospital. Diarrhoeal incidences were associated with FH and EH practices (p&lt;0.001) and not with PH practices. Improvement in the environmental and personal hygiene practices of the mothers can contribute largely in reducing the prevalence of diarrhoea among children in Chikhli taluka of Gujarat.</p>


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