Hygiene Standards Research Articles

Molecular surveillance and antimicrobial susceptibility profile of bacterial contamination in pastries of Iranian confectioneries: a public health concern.

Microbial contamination in food products such as pastries, poses a significant public health concern due to the potential risks of foodborne infection and outbreak, Therefore, to prevent these infections, it is essential to investigate the frequency and extent of microbial contamination as well as the level of drug resistance in pastries. Due to this issue, our study aimed to assess the microbial diversity and the drug susceptibility patterns of microbial pollutants in pastry shops in Markazi province, Iran. The study involved collecting 120 pastry samples from 30 pastry shops in Markazi province, Iran. The isolates were identified using a series of biochemical, phenotypic, and molecular assays, including specific PCR and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Drug susceptibility testing (AST) was performed by using the Kirby-Bauer method according to the CLSI 2023 guidelines. A total of 56 isolates (46.66%) were recovered from 120 pastries samples, The most prevalent species isolated in the current study were S. aureus 12 isolates (21.43%), M. luteus 7 isolates (12.5%), E. coli 7 isolates (12.5%), S. warneri 6 isolates (11.12%), 6 isolates of S. succinus (11.12%), B. cereus 5 isolates (10.7%), Nocardia 4 isolates (7.15%), K. pneumoniae 3 isolates (5.35%), S. epidermidis 3 isolates (5.35%), and E. faecium 3 isolates (5.35%). The isolates showed the most sensitivity to imipenem and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and the least sensitivity to erythromycin and tetracycline. The AST showed that 7 isolates of S. aureus were MRSA, 3 isolates of E. coli and, 2 isolates of K. pneumoniae were identified as ESBL. In conclusion, the results of the current study showed that the microbial contamination of pastries produced in confectionaries of Markazi province was not in standard ranges. These problems may be related to fecal contamination of pastries or lack of hygiene by handlers and it is urgent to develop the standards of hygiene of food handling techniques and aseptic pastry production in confectioneries.

Critical Analysis Of The Evolving Role Of Dentistry In Preventive And Restorative Medicine

Dentistry has kept up with this trend towards preventive and restorative health care in the patient practice pattern. In the past, dentistry primarily concentrated on simple problems like filling in cavities and pulling out of teeth, it is today a health science of immense value. In recent years, preventive oral health care intervention, which aims to identify latent oral pathoses and elevate community health oral hygiene standards, is increasingly appreciated for suppressing systemic diseases, including cardiovascular illnesses, diabetes, and respiratory ailments. In addition, restorative dentistry has developed a new material, techniques, and technology that enhance the quality of life for patients with dentistry disability. This review looks at dentistry's current and future trends in health promotion and restoration capacity, with special reference to health systems. This article discusses the evolution of dental practices, how dentistry interfaces with other branches of medicine, and some of the issues that have affected this field. Further, it throws light on the new advancements in dental technology, patient care diplomacy, and novel concepts of healthcare delivery systems.

Preparation and Characterisations of Acrylic Epoxy/Polyethylene Glycol/Graphene Oxide Nanocomposites for Antibacterial Coating Applications

This study addresses the urgent need for antibacterial coatings amid escalating concerns about pathogen contamination on various surfaces, particularly in healthcare settings and public spaces where infection control is critical. The development of durable and effective antibacterial coatings could significantly reduce harmful bacteria transmission and improve overall hygiene standards. Graphene oxide (GO) had exceptional antibacterial properties against a wide spectrum of bacteria. Here, the researchers explored the composite of GO with acrylic epoxy (AE) through the use of polyethylene glycol (PEG) to become AE/PEG/GO tertiary nanocomposites in enhancing GO’s antibacterial efficacy. The objectives of this study were to prepare and characterise AE/PEG/GO nanocomposites and then investigate their antibacterial abilities against escherichia coli (E. coli) and staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) bacteria. The GO was prepared using the modified Hummers method, which was mechanically stirred with AE and PEG to produce the AE/PEG/GO nanocomposites. This was followed by characterisations of the nanocomposites via ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectrophotometer, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The nanocomposites were then tested against E. coli and S. aureus bacteria by measuring the diameter of the inhibition zone (DIZ). The results showed that the absorption peak of GO was obtained at a wavelength of 236 nm. The diffraction pattern of the AE/PEG/GO nanocomposites showed amorphous structure with a small and wide peak at 2 around 23°. The IR spectrum of the AE/PEG/GO nanocomposites indicated the presence of –OH, –CH3, –CH2, C=O, C–H, C–O and C=C functional groups. The surface morphology showed well-distributed nanocomposite coating onto glass slides with some micro islands. The nanocomposites exhibited promising antibacterial performance revealing higher efficacy against S. aureus compared to E. coli. This was shown by the performance of AE/PEG/GO coating in inhibiting S. aureus bacteria with 1.55 mm larger DIZ compared to the positive control. However, the AE/PEG/GO coating exhibited smaller DIZ than the positive control with a difference of 3.68 mm in inhibiting E. coli bacteria. This study unveiled a simple and straightforward approach in producing nanocomposites for antibacterial coatings shedding light on their potential applications in safeguarding surfaces against bacterial contamination.

Paneer in everyday diet: Health impacts, risks, and best consumption practices

Paneer, a traditional Indian dairy product, has gained immense popularity due to its high protein content and versatility in vegetarian diets. This article explores the nutritional benefits, potential health risks, and best practices for the safe consumption of paneer. Paneer is rich in proteins, fats, and essential micronutrients like calcium, making it an important food in many diets. However, challenges such as its short shelf life, potential contamination during production, and the presence of saturated fats raise concerns about its health and safety when consumed in excess or under improper conditions. This paper reviews the key health benefits of paneer, including its role in supporting muscle growth and bone health, while also addressing the risks posed by adulteration, microbial contamination, and improper storage. Through an analysis of traditional and commercial production methods, this study identifies critical control points in the processing and handling of paneer that can reduce risks and enhance its safety. Best practices for safe consumption include proper refrigeration, adherence to hygienic production standards, and limiting consumption of full-fat paneer to avoid excessive saturated fat intake. The article also highlights risk in consuming paneer which are adulterated, causing health threat to general public. Recommendations for future research focus on improving processing techniques and public awareness around safe paneer consumption to ensure its benefits outweigh potential risks.

Метод комбінованого лікування медіастиніту після аортокоронарного шунтування

Post-sternotomy mediastinitis (PM) or deep wound sternal infection is one of the most dreaded complications after cardiac surgery. Thanks to modern hygiene standards in hospitals and the rational use of antibiotics, the overall prevalence of PM is generally considered low. In cases of coronary artery bypass grafting using the internal mammary artery, this rate can significantly increase. However, even if this complication is relatively rare, it is associated with high mortality and morbidity level. Deep wound sternal infection not only leads to bad outcomes but is also accompanied by significant morbidity in surviving patients, prolonged hospital stays, increased treatment costs, and a substantial deterioration in long-term survival rates. At present, there is no standard treatment regimen for PM. Clinicians can choose different methods depending on the classification form of the disease, but all without exception include three main concepts: infection control, classical, irrigation, or vacuum wound drainage, and its reconstruction. Today, surgeons continuously propose new treatment methods, all of them have its own advantages and disadvantages as well. We present a case report of successful combined treatment (vacuum therapy followed by thoracoplasty) of PM after coronary artery bypass grafting.

Food Handler Hygiene and Escherichia Coli Bacteria Content in Se'i Cows

Food handlers who do not adhere to proper health and hygiene standards can significantly contribute to the risk of cross-contamination during food preparation. In the case of se'i beef (a traditional Indonesian smoked beef dish), such lapses can lead to contamination with harmful pathogens, including Escherichia coli (E. coli). Not washing hands thoroughly after using the restroom, handling raw meat, or touching contaminated surfaces can transfer E. coli from handlers to the beef. Using unclean knives, cutting boards, or other tools can spread bacteria from one food item to another.. The aim of the research was to assess the hygiene conditions of food handlers and the content of Escherichia coli bacteria in se'i beef. The research method is a survey with a cross sectional design. The research results showed that 70% of food handlers did not wear head coverings, 50% did not wear masks correctly, 100% spoke when handling food, 80% did not use aprons, did not use tools/equipment/hand pads when handling 70% of food and 90% of cow samples contained Escherichia coli bacteria.

Https://agroecoinfo.ru/TEXT/RUSSIAN/nomer_2024_6.html

This article examines the problem of concomitant contamination of soils with heavy metals after long-standing oil spills in the Republic of Bashkortostan. The results of a study on changes in the gross content of heavy metals in different types of soils are presented. Studies have shown that among the studied gross forms of heavy metals (Zn, Cu, Pb, Ni) in areas with long-standing oil spills there is no correlation with the content of petroleum products. The content of all forms of the studied metals did not exceed the requirements of sanitary and hygienic standards and the geochemical background characteristic of the studied territory. Keywords: HEAVY METALS, GRAY FOREST SOIL, TYPICAL CHERNOZEM, ALLUVIAL MEADOW SOILS, OIL POLLUTION

Infections acquired in barbershops - A review.

Barbershops are important venues for men to get their hair and beards done and hence, play an important role in men's social life. But barbershops can also be a source of infections. The barber's profession brings the barber into direct contact with customers who may carry pathogens, and contaminated instruments or skin-to-skin contacts might transmit infectious agents. Since barbers work with non-sterile and reusable sharp objects, a simple nick might facilitate blood-borne infections. In our review article we summarize current knowledge regarding barbershop-acquired infections including transmission routes and preventive measures. In fact, shaving in barbershops, particularly when reusing non-disinfected razor blades increases the transmission risk for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis B or C viruses. Furthermore, distinct bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus, fungi (in particular dermatophytic Trichophyton species) as well as ectoparasitic lice could be identified upon screening of the barbers' equipment and working places. However, knowledge regarding and compliance in hygiene practices varied considerably among barbers. Notably, since in certain countries barbershops are venues to contact sex workers, sexually transmitted diseases might also be acquired in barbershops. In conclusion, improving hygiene standards including disinfection of reusable equipment, and surveillance of the preventive measures would reduce the risk for barbershop-acquired infections.

Гігієна фізичних факторів навколишнього середовища: понад 60 років досвіду й погляд у майбутнє

Objective. The objective of the work was to evaluate the main achievements and outline the prospects for hygienic rationing of physical factors in populated areas of Ukraine. Materials and methods. Scientific reports, regulatory documents, guidelines and scientific publications were studied by the method of literature analysis. Results. Systematic studies on the hygienic assessment of physical factors – electromagnetic fields, noise and vibration – in populated areas are carried out at the State Institution O.M. Marzieiev Institute for Public Health of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine for more than 60 years. The research is carried out in order to develop hygienic standards – the maximum permissible levels of physical factors, to develop protective measures to prevent the adverse effects of physical environmental factors on the health of the population. In recent years, some hygienic standards have been changed without conducting appropriate scientific research, some hygienic standards have not yet been developed. Conclusions. We have accumulated extensive, mostly unique, experience in performing work on hygienic regulation of physical environmental factors. With the development of technology, the levels of electromagnetic fields, noise and vibration continue to increase, which determines the priority of protecting public health from the adverse effects of these factors. Of course, the implementation of work on hygienic regulation of physical environmental factors should continue, because according to the outstanding hygienist, academician Alexander Nikitich Marzeev, whose name our scientific institution bears, the future belongs to us – to the hygiene. Keywords. Air ionization, electromagnetic fields, noise, vibration, hygienic regulation, exposure limits.

Державне регулювання безпекових технологій освітніх захищених просторів в зонах активних бойових дій: українські реалії та світовий досвід

The purpose of this work is the study of international experience and the substantiation of compliance with basic hygienic indicators when implementing atypical planning and construction solutions in new and existing institutions of general secondary education for the physical protection of participants in the educational process during the war in Ukraine. Materials and methods. Sanitary and hygienic, bibliometric and analytical methods were used in the work. Review. In Ukraine, in connection with the ongoing full-scale war and in order to protect students, there was an urgent need to solve the issue of protecting students, teachers and employees of the general institution of secondary education during the educational process, especially in those located in territories close to territories with active hostilities. The first special underground institution of general secondary education was opened in the city of Kharkiv – a bunker-type school, which corresponds to the current comprehensive policy of the Ministry of Education and Culture "School Offline". This institution of general secondary education is located in an underground space at a depth of 6 m. It is designed for a simultaneous capacity of 600 students of grades 1-11 (or 900 students in two shifts). The high cost of designing and building an underground institution of general secondary education limited its capacity, provision of a full set of functional groups of premises, including recreational, physical culture and sports, educational and production zones, provision of premises with natural lighting and insolation. For the implementation of this project, the architectural and planning and sanitary and hygienic standards have not been partially met, which may negatively affect the health of children and affect their quality of life in the future. In conditionally safe territories, it was proposed to arrange protected spaces in institutions of general secondary education, which also has a number of disadvantages and requires in-depth study. Conclusions. According to the results of the study of the international experience of extensive construction of underground institutions of general secondary education, none were found. However, the experience of building underground institutions of general secondary education with students staying during the school day is isolated, was carried out as an experiment and did not spread. The introduction of the latest constructive solutions (protected spaces) and the possibility of further expansion of the design and construction of underground institutions of general secondary education in Ukraine require careful study. Keywords. State regulation, world experience, institutions of general secondary education, bunker school, construction in underground space, educational protected spaces, children's safety.

Deep learning for the detection of good hygienic practices control measures for food handlers

Hygiene habits and behaviors of food handlers are critical to ensuring food safety during production. Good Hygiene Practices (GHP) require food handlers to follow strict hygiene standards, including proper handwashing procedures and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as hairnets, masks, gloves, protective clothing, pants, and work shoes to prevent cross-contamination in food factories. However, manual inspections in large-scale operations are often inefficient and impractical. To address this, this study proposes a deep learning-based system that leverages computer vision and Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) to automatically detect hand hygiene and PPE compliance before workers enter the production area. This ensures adherence to GHP standards, enhances food safety, improves inspection efficiency, and reduces costs. A dataset of 20,222 entries, comprising 12 handwashing actions from 8 angles and color-coded PPE conditions, was used to train and evaluate 10 models: YOLOv8, YOLOv7, YOLOv6, YOLOv5, ResNet, Dense-Net, MobileNetv2, EfficientNetv2, VGG, and Vision Transformer (ViT). YOLOv6 and YOLOv8 achieved the highest accuracy (0.999) for handwashing recognition, while Dense-Net achieved the highest accuracy (0.956) for PPE detection. This system offers an efficient and automated solution for monitoring hygiene habits, helping to prevent cross-contamination and ensure food safety within factory environments.

The history of the development of atmospheric air hygiene in historical milestones and persons of the A.N. Sysin Institute

This article presents a retrospective analysis of the origin and further development of domestic atmospheric hygiene, closely intertwined with the history of the A.N. Sysin Research Institute of Human Ecology and Environmental Hygiene since the beginning of the XX century. As the stages of the formation of an independent hygienic discipline and the deep integration of its scientific principles into the legislation and practice of the domestic sanitary and epidemiological service, the authors present the directions of research carried out at various times on the basis of the laboratory of atmospheric air hygiene of the Institute. For each such stage, the role of hygiene scientists who worked at the A.N. Sysin Research Institute at various times is indicated, as well as their achievements as a legacy preserved as part of the interdisciplinary scientific school of atmospheric hygiene. There are described works of such scientists as A.N. Sysin, V.A. Ryazanov, M.S. Goldberg, Yu.G. Feldman, V.A. Hoffmekler, M.A. Pinigin and L.A. Tepikina, which are rightfully considered classics of the scientific justification of the used sanitary and epidemiological requirements and hygienic standards. Along with the description of scientific ideas, the article presents fundamental problematic issues of atmospheric air hygiene, formulated at the Institute back in the 70s of the last century. The consistent development of regulatory legal regulation of atmospheric air protection in Russia up to the modern integration of an extensive database of hygienic standards into the practice of environmental regulation can be considered a reflection of the scientific achievements of the Laboratory of Atmospheric air Hygiene of the Institute. Adherence to traditions is presented on a par with advanced ideas developed at various times at the A.N. Sysin Research Institute, aimed at unconditionally ensuring the sanitary and epidemiological well-being of the population.

Assessment of Microbial Contamination and Bacterial Characterization in Ready-to-Eat Fruits from Port Harcourt Markets, Nigeria

Food safety is critical in preventing foodborne illnesses, particularly in regions where regulatory oversight may be inconsistent. This study aimed to assess the microbial contamination and characterize bacteria found in whole and sliced ready-to-eat (RTE) fruits sold in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. The study area of this research was in Port Harcourt, the capital and largest city in Rivers State, Nigeria. The study employed a simple random sampling technique, and the methodology involved collecting 30 samples of apples, cucumbers, oranges, pawpaws, and watermelons from six markets: Fruit Garden Market, Mile 1 Market, Mile 3 Market, Oil Mill Market, Rumuokoro Market, and Town Market. Samples were analyzed using standard microbiological techniques, including total heterotrophic bacterial count (THBC) and total coliform count (TCC). Serial dilutions and culturing were performed, and the isolates were identified through morphological and biochemical tests. Results indicated that coliforms such as Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp and Enterobacter spp were isolated, and the THBC varied significantly among the markets, with the highest contamination observed in Mile 3 Market (9.50 × 10⁴ CFU/ml) and the lowest in Town Market (7.27 × 10⁴ CFU/ml). TCC results showed the highest coliform contamination in Rumuokoro Market (5.16 × 10³ CFU/ml), likely influenced by proximity to unsanitary water sources. Watermelon had the highest contamination levels for both THBC and TCC, while cucumber showed the lowest. Variations in contamination levels were attributed to environmental factors, inadequate handling practices, and hygiene standards. The study concluded that RTE fruits sold in Port Harcourt pose significant health risks due to microbial contamination levels exceeding recommended safety thresholds. It emphasized the importance of stringent hygiene practices among vendors and better regulatory measures to prevent outbreaks. Recommendations include improved food safety training for vendors, stricter sanitation practices during handling and transportation, and regular monitoring by health authorities to ensure compliance with safety standards. Therefore, the study highlights health risks in consuming ready-to-eat fruits, supporting food safety improvements to reduce foodborne illnesses in Port Harcourt.

Creation of a database of historical control of hematological indices in rat blood to interpret the results of sanitary and toxicological studies of active substances of pesticides

Introduction. Historical control data provide an understanding of the background variability (spontaneous changes) of the studied indices in the same species and line of animals, under similar conditions in the same laboratory, when assessing the toxic effects of repeated (manifold) administration of active substances of pesticides. The aim of the study was to create a database of historical control of hematological indices in rat blood used in chronic (twelve months) studies of active substances of pesticides of various chemical structures. Materials and methods. In accordance with the planned goal, a database of hematological blood indicces from control animals used in chronic (12 months) sanitary and toxicological studies of active substances of pesticides of various chemical structures has been created. The database contains information on 13 hematological indices in rat blood taken from control animals in dynamics after 1, 3, 6 and 12 months from the start of the study for the period 2017–2022. Studies of the active substances of pesticides were carried out in the biological testing laboratory of the Federal Scientific Center of Hygiene named after F.F. Erisman of the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing according to the manual P 1.2.3156–13. Results. The results of the conducted studies indicate that in dynamics after 1, 3, 6 and 12 months of the study, a statistically significant increase in hemoglobin levels was detected in the blood of male rats. With the age, the animals showed a tendency to increase the concentration of red blood cells and platelets. Limitations. This article publishes a database of historical control of hematological parameters in rat blood, data on biochemical indices of blood serum and physiological indices in male rats in similar studies will be presented in the following publications. Conclusion. The results obtained will be used to substantiate the maximum inactive doses (NOEL), permissible daily doses (DSD), hygienic standards of the studied compounds in food and environmental objects.

Hygienic regulation of harmful chemicals in water – a view through the prism of research by the A.N. Sysin Research Institute

The article is devoted to the history of hygienic regulation of harmful chemicals in water at the A.N. Sysin Research Institute, spanning several decades. The article details the stages of the development of the methodology for hygienic regulation of chemicals in water, starting from the first regulatory documents developed under the guidance of A.N. Sysin in the 1940s to an improved methodology that includes accelerated and in-depth toxicological experiments. The developed step-by-step regulation scheme for chemicals in water combines the experimental method of substantiating maximum allowable concentrations (MACs) based on organoleptic and general sanitary indicators of harmfulness with techniques that allow reducing the duration of toxicological studies where it is possible without loss of quality of the results. There are considered modern approaches to predicting the toxicity of substances and their biotransformation, including the use of data mining methods and quantum chemistry. Special attention is given to studying the issues of ensuring safe water use conditions for the population, the application of new chemical compounds in various industries, as well as the effectiveness and safety of reagents and technologies used in water purification and water treatment processes, including improving criteria and methods for studying the combined effects of substances. The results of studies on the transformation processes of substances under the action of various disinfecting agents are presented. Many years of research by the Institute’s staff are reflected in the Methodological Guidelines for substantiating hygienic standards for chemicals in the water of household and drinking water bodies and recreational water use, Methodological Guidelines for assessing the safety of materials, reagents, and equipment used for water purification and treatment, and the development of hygienic standards for the content of chemicals in water. On this basis, modern main documents on the regulation of chemicals in the environment have been created.

Hygienic aspects of ensuring chemical safety of using new health-saving technologies for the utilization of biogas at solid municipal waste landfills

Introduction. Environmental health issues are currently among the most important for the population of large administrative and industrial centers. Improving the quality of the environment and creating comfortable living conditions for humans using environmentally friendly methods is one of the current topical areas in environmental hygiene. Materials and methods. The assessment of the effectiveness and chemical safety of the application of a new technology for the collection, purification, neutralization, and disposal of landfill gas for the content of a wide range of organic compounds C5–C20 at a municipal solid waste landfill was carried out using a chromato-mass spectrometric method that allows identifying and quantifying with sensitivity at and below hygienic standards a wide range of organic compounds C5–C20 in air with an unknown composition of pollutants. Results. As a result of the operation of the new landfill gas purification system at the solid waste landfill, the total concentration of pollutants, including marginal and aromatic hydrocarbons, oxygen-containing compounds (alcohols, carboxylic acids), organic sulfur-containing compounds, and sulfur dioxide decreased. As a result of the operation of the new landfill gas purification technology, 100% purification from odourous dialkyl sulfides and nitrogen-containing compounds has been achieved. However, at the outlet of the system, compounds not detected at the inlet were identified, which can be considered as products of combustion and transformation of hydrocarbons that are part of landfill gas, the presence of which indicates to the use of an oxidative process in the process of its disposal. Limitations. The study is limited to the application of the method of investigation of organic compounds with the molecular formula C5–C20. Conclusion. For an adequate assessment of the quality and chemical safety to human health of health-saving technologies, an important condition is the use of physical-chemical studies that identify and quantify dozens of pollutants simultaneously, which makes it possible to take into account the multiple componentness of the chemical composition and the possibility of adverse side effects in the form of toxic transformation of products affecting humans in real environmental pollution conditions.

Investigating the Influential Factors of Ride-Hailing Usage Frequency in the Post-Pandemic Era

The COVID-19 pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on public travel and has significantly altered people’s travel behavior. By comparing the travel behaviors of ride-hailing passengers before and after the pandemic (i.e., the pre-pandemic era and the post-pandemic era), it is possible to effectively identify the changes in their travel patterns and thus deeply understand the changes in individual travel habits in the post-pandemic era. Using data collected in Nanjing, China, this paper develops two ordered logit models to examine the impact mechanism of multi-dimensional influential factors on the trip frequency of ride-hailing users before and after the pandemic. The results reveal the following: (1) Before the pandemic, the increase in waiting time promoted the usage frequency of ride-hailing users, while in the post-pandemic era, the increase in waiting time reduces the travel frequency of ride-hailing users. (2) Before the pandemic, the increase in prices led to a decrease in ride-hailing users’ usage frequency, while it presents a push effect in the post-pandemic era. (3) In the post-pandemic era, ride-hailing users are more concerned about personal safety, avoiding conversing with the driver and touching objects in the car. Finally, some strategies, such as increasing awareness of personal information protection and security, optimizing waiting times, and improving the hygiene standards of ride-hailing, are proposed to assist transportation network companies in operating and restoring ride-hailing services in the post-pandemic era.

Are there “Ratatouille” restaurants? On anticorrelation of food quality and hygiene

We study the empirical relationship between restaurants’ hygiene standards and their food quality scores, as evaluated by professional reviewers. By using data from the UK high-end restaurants, we show that this relationship is negative, observed across several econometric specifications and food quality measurements. We report that 3% of Michelin-starred restaurants have poor hygiene, while the same is true for 2.5% of high-end guidebook-listed restaurants in our dataset. We highlight two possibilities for this observed negative association: a strategic hypothesis (capturing restaurants’ choices trading off hygiene for quality), and a selection hypothesis (reflecting restaurants’ differential survival rates under competition). Our results indicate that the latter has more support. Our findings also illuminate potential channels through which the anticorrelation between hygiene and food quality could be mitigated and can be informative for hygiene inspectors in order to prioritize restaurants in their inspection schedule based on observable characteristics.

Patterns of handwashing among healthcare workers in APIN Public Health initiatives supported states in Southwest Nigeria

BackgroundEffective hand hygiene is crucial for preventing healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) among healthcare workers (HCWs) and patients. This study aimed to assess handwashing practices among HCWs providing routine HIV care to People Living with HIV (PLHIV) and to compare hand hygiene patterns among clinical and non-clinical health workers in APIN Public Health Initiatives-supported states in Southwest Nigeria.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among HCWs providing routine HIV care to PLHIV in selected healthcare facilities across APIN-supported states (Oyo, Ogun, and Ondo) from January to June 2024. Data on handwashing patterns and compliance factors were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. A total of 588 respondents were recruited using multi-stage stratified cluster sampling. Descriptive analysis was performed, hand hygiene patterns among clinical and non-clinical health workers were compared, and chi-square statistics determined the associations, with a p-value of < 0.05 considered significant.ResultsThe study found that 56.5% of participants had good awareness of handwashing practices, and 54.6% demonstrated good compliance. Additionally, 65.5% reported washing hands before and after routine activities. Handwashing awareness (60.3%) and compliance (60.5%) rates were highest among clinical professionals. Major barriers to handwashing included inadequate water supply, lack of materials, being too busy, and forgetfulness. Profession was significantly associated with hand hygiene awareness (odds ratio [OR] = 1.504, confidence interval [CI] = 1.075–2.104), while age (OR = 0.613, CI = 0.442–0.851) and profession (OR = 1.888, CI = 1.347–2.645) were significantly associated with compliance.ConclusionThe study highlights suboptimal handwashing practices among healthcare workers, with non-clinical workers demonstrating lower awareness and compliance to hand hygiene standards compared to clinical staff despite working in the same environment. Therefore, future tailored training sessions and interventions should be prioritized for non-clinical health workers.

An Exploratory Study: Controversial Beliefs and Practices of Hijama Practitioners of Karachi, Pakistan

Background: Cultural and spiritual beliefs have preserved the use of traditional practices, including al hijama (wet cupping), which is widely recognized for its purported therapeutic value and historical significance. Despite its popularity, the practice often lacks formal training and is frequently administered by unqualified practitioners, leading to false beliefs and potentially unsafe practices. Objective: To investigate the scientific knowledge and beliefs of hijama practitioners of Karachi, Pakistan, with a focus on identifying misconceptions, variations in practice, and the influence of cultural and religious beliefs on the practice of hijama therapy. Methodology: A cross-sectional exploratory study was conducted involving 114 hijama practitioners from Karachi, who were recruited through various WhatsApp groups and enrolled in a seminar held in January 2023. The participants were required to complete a 37-item questionnaire covering their qualifications, practice methods, hygiene standards, and beliefs about the hijama therapy. Data were analyzed using spss version 20, employing mean, standard deviation, chi-square tests, and frequency distribution. Results: Most participants (97.4%) were female, with only 39.5% possessing a license to practice. Many practitioners (89.5%) were motivated by the religious significance of hijama. The knowledge regarding the scientific theories and mechanism of action of hijama therapy was known by 56.4%. Practices varied widely regarding hygiene, blade type, and cup placement. 38.1% did not consistently check for infectious diseases. Additionally, the practice of reciting Qur’anic verses was widespread, believed to enhance the therapy's effectiveness which shows strong religious connotation. Conclusion: The study reveals a substantial gap in formal training among hijama practitioners, leading to variations in practice and potential safety concerns. There is a pressing need for standardized training and regulations to ensure the safe and effective practice of hijama therapy. Further research is essential to establish evidence-based guidelines which improve the public and physician awareness towards this therapy’s risks and benefits.