Hygiene News and Research

RSS

Low-cost deworming drug improves female farmers' physical fitness

Impoverished female farm workers infected with intestinal parasites known as hookworms saw significant improvements in physical fitness when they were treated with a low-cost deworming drug.

19 Apr 2018

Specific odors from malaria infected individuals attract more mosquitoes

Malaria causes the bodies of its human hosts to emit specific odors from the skin that make the hosts even more attractive to mosquitoes, which invites further bites and risks infection of more mosquitoes and wider transmission of the disease.

17 Apr 2018

Study: One-third of bacterial infections in patients with cirrhosis induced by MDR bacteria

A worldwide study initiated to investigate the epidemiology and outcomes of bacterial infections in hospitalized patients with liver cirrhosis has reported a prevalence of multi-drug-resistant bacteria of 34% and significant regional differences in the risk of developing a multi-drug-resistant infection.

13 Apr 2018

People who stay up late risk shorter lives

New research shows that people who habitually stay up late and wake up late are at risk of shorter lives compared to those who follow the old adage – “early to bed and early to rise…” The study titled, “Associations between chronotype, morbidity and mortality in the UK Biobank cohort,” was published in the latest issue of the journal Chronobiology International.

13 Apr 2018

New biogenic dental product uses proteins to rebuild teeth, treat cavities

Researchers at the University of Washington have designed a convenient and natural product that uses proteins to rebuild tooth enamel and treat dental cavities.

12 Apr 2018

PBO long-lasting insecticidal nets found to be effective in reducing malaria prevalence

Bed nets coated with a long-lasting chemical – called piperonyl butoxide (PBO) – combined with pyrethroid insecticide reduced the prevalence of malaria in children by 44% over one year, and 33% over two years, compared to the bed nets currently used, according to a randomized controlled trial published in The Lancet.

12 Apr 2018

Hand dryers in the loo spraying bacteria on your hands

One of the basic hygiene measures is to dry the hands under a hand dryer after using the washroom. New study finds that the measure of washing hands with soap to cleanse them may be undone by the hand dryer that is praying bacteria on the clean hands. The study by researchers at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine appeared in the latest issue of the journal Applied And Environmental Microbiology.

12 Apr 2018

Short international trips can lead to spread of colistin resistance

The emergence of antibiotic resistance among dangerous pathogens is increasingly problematic worldwide. Many strains of infectious bacteria have become multidrug-resistant, and cannot be treated with common antibiotic therapies.

11 Apr 2018

DNA test method can help quickly prevent Legionnaires' outbreak

A DNA test method called polymerase chain reaction allowed New York City health officials to identify the source of a Legionnaires' disease outbreak within hours of specimen collection and should be considered in all Legionnaires' outbreak investigations, researchers say in the April issue of the Journal of Environmental Health.

10 Apr 2018

Atlas Award-winning study calls for more support to fight allergy epidemic in Africa

Allergies are on the rise in Africa, but with too few specialists to treat them, and a parallel increase in immune deficiency diseases, the situation is worse than we thought.

3 Apr 2018

New method shows how microbial communities may assemble inside plumbing systems

Bacteria in tap water can multiply when a faucet isn't used for a few days, such as when a house is vacant over a week's vacation, a new study from University of Illinois engineers found.

30 Mar 2018

Tackling Hand Hygiene Barriers in Healthcare

Hand hygiene is critical to preventing the spread of infection in hospitals. Current methods are outdated, and new technologies are expensive. Zoono's products offer an alternative to alcohol-based hand sanitizers that protect the skin's surface for longer.

28 Mar 2018

Study links essential oils to hormonal imbalances

A new study has found that common chemicals found in essential oils may have adverse health impacts, contrary to popular belief.

27 Mar 2018

Foil-based measuring chip rapidly detects Legionella

In an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease, finding the exact source as quickly as possible is essential to preventing further infections. To date, a standard analysis takes days. Researchers at the Technical University of Munich have now developed a rapid test that achieves the same result in about 35 minutes.

23 Mar 2018

50% of Australians do not brush teeth twice a day

Brushing twice a day for at least two minutes is a basic hygiene rule. According to a new survey from the Australia’s Oral Health Tracker, only half of the Australian adults brush twice a day regularly. Australia’s Oral Health Tracker includes experts such as dental researchers, clinicians as well as policy and public health experts. This report comes on World Oral Health Day and is released by the ADA

19 Mar 2018

Flu risk less on flights if in a window seat finds study

Airplanes are known to be medium for spreading airborne infections mainly because of the number of people including some with contagious infections such as flu, being clubbed together in a closed space.

19 Mar 2018

ACTA trial in AIDS patients with cryptococcal meningitis validates new therapeutic regimens

The results of the ACTA trial were presented at the 9th IAS Conference on HIV Science held in Paris from 23 to 26 July 2017. Professor Thomas Harrison and his colleagues at St George's University of London, the Institut Pasteur in Paris, Paris Descartes University (Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades), the ANRS site in Cameroon, and the MRC sites in Malawi, Tanzania, and Zambia show in this trial that new therapeutic regimens are of benefit in HIV-infected patients with cryptococcal meningitis.

15 Mar 2018

Tradeshow Talks with CDS Analytical

We spoke to Terry from CDS Analytical at Pittcon 2018.

1 Mar 2018

State-level tobacco control policies likely influence e-cigarette use

States with robust tobacco control policies and regulations, such as smoke free air laws and taxes on cigarettes, not only have fewer cigarette users but also fewer e-cigarette users, according to research from NYU School of Medicine and the NYU College of Global Public Health.

28 Feb 2018

Grand Challenges Canada announces $7.9 million investment for health innovations in India

Grand Challenges Canada today announced an investment of up to $7.9 million in 40 health innovations in India, supported by the Government of Canada through Global Affairs Canada and complemented by contributions of dozens of partners, creating a total investment of up to $12.3 million.

24 Feb 2018