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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
medicine
An international survey of bacterial contamination and householders' knowledge, attitudes and perceptions of hygiene
Journal of Infection Prevention, Volume 14, No. 4, Year 2013
Notification
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Description
This prospective, multinational study was conducted in 20 homes in eight cities or regions in different countries to determine the level of microbiological contamination of common surfaces and items, and investigate the attitudes and perceptions of householders towards cleaning and hygiene. Environmental Health Practitioners took eight standardised swabs in each home. The swabs were cultured for a range of micro-organisms. Householders (n=160) were also interviewed regarding their cleaning habits and perceptions of hygiene. Overall, 28% of surfaces or items tested in the study had 'moderate bacterial growth' or 'heavy bacterial growth'. Kitchen cloths were the most contaminated items, with 86% having moderate bacterial growth or heavy bacterial growth; kitchen taps were the second most contaminated items, with 52% having moderate bacterial growth or heavy bacterial growth. High proportions (>50%) of kitchen cloths contained coliforms, Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas spp. The visual appearance of surfaces and items frequently (30%) did not correspond to their level of contamination with micro-organisms. The majority of householders (65%) cleaned to make the house 'look clean, smell nice and remove germs'; however, householders' perceptions of the cleanliness of their homes frequently did not correspond to microbiological reality. In conclusion, further research and education are needed regarding hygiene in the home. © The Author(s) 2013.
Authors & Co-Authors
Oxford, John S.
United Kingdom, London
Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry
Berezín, Eitan Naaman
Brazil, Sao Paulo
Faculdade de Ciencias Medicas da Santa Casa de Sao Paulo
Brazil, Sao Paulo
Brazilian Society for Infectious Diseases
Courvalin, Patrice M.
France, Paris
Institut Pasteur, Paris
Dwyer, Dominic Edmund
Australia, Sydney
The University of Sydney
Exner, Martin
Germany, Bonn
Universität Bonn
Jana, Laura A.
United States, Omaha
Practical Parenting Consulting
Kaku, Mitsuo
Japan, Sendai
Graduate School of Medicine
Lee, Christopher T.
Malaysia, Sungai
Sungai Buloh Hospital
Letlape, Kgosi
South Africa, Johannesburg
Africa Medical Association
South Africa, Johannesburg
Tshepang Trust
Low, Donald E.
Canada, Toronto
University of Toronto
Madani, Tariq Ahmed A.
Saudi Arabia, Jeddah
King Abdulaziz University
Rubino, Joseph R.
United Kingdom, Slough
Reckitt Benckiser Group Plc
Saini, Narendra
India, Ghaziabad
Pushpanjali Crosslay Hospital
Schoub, Barry David
South Africa, Johannesburg
University of the Witwatersrand
South Africa, Johannesburg
National Institute for Communicable Diseases
Signorelli, Carlo
Italy, Parma
Università Di Parma
Italy, Bari
National Board of the Italian Society of Hygiene
Tierno, Philip M.
United States, New York
Nyu Langone Health
Zhong, Xuhui
China, Beijing
Peking University First Hospital
Statistics
Citations: 17
Authors: 17
Affiliations: 21
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1177/1757177413483346
ISSN:
17571774
e-ISSN:
17571782
Research Areas
Environmental
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Cohort Study
Study Approach
Quantitative