This article explores factors that may influence hand washing behaviour among pupils and staff in primary schools. A qualitative process evaluation within a cluster randomized controlled trial included pupil focus groups (n = 16, aged 6-11 years), semi-structured interviews (n = 16 teachers) and observations of hand washing facilities (n = 57). Pupils and staff in intervention and control schoo...

The design of a hospital, including how the beds are spaced and where clinical areas and supplies are located, affects the amount of time staff spend walking around wards instead of spending time with patients providing direct clinical care. A number of technological solutions are emerging that have the potential to reduce unnecessary walking and give nurses more time to spend with patients. On...

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Meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and other multiply resistant bacteria are frequently isolated in long-term care facilities (LTCFs). This study evaluated the contamination of staff clothing in three LTCFs. Over 500 samples were taken from uniforms and their pockets and these samples showed a high level of MRSA contamination. Wearing plastic aprons and managing pocket contents i...

OBJECTIVE To promote incorporation of new guidelines on control of respiratory infections into family physicians' practices. SOURCES OF INFORMATION The World Health Organization website on pandemic influenza, the Canadian Pandemic Influenza Plan, the Ontario guidelines on respiratory infection control, and research on implementing guidelines into family practice were reviewed. We also researc...

OBJECTIVE The practice of regular dose measurement helps to ascertain the level of occupational dose delivered to the staff involved in diagnostic procedures. This study was carried out to evaluate the dose exposed to the hands of radiologists and a radiologic technologist carrying out HSG and radionuclide bone scan examinations in several hospitals in Nigeria. METHODS Radiation doses exposed...

AS a hospital epidemiologist, my inclination when I reviewed the article by Pittet et al. entitled “Hand-cleansing during Postanesthesia Care” was to say, “It’s about time someone addressed this issue in the PACU”! In contrast, readers of the Journal may be asking, “What’s the big deal? These authors haven’t demonstrated that poor compliance with hand-cleansing, or hand hygiene, in the PACU is ...

DEAR EDITOR Cyanoacrylates (CAs) were first described in 1949 and their potential as adhesives were quickly recognised.1 Various homologues of CA adhesive have been studied and used, including methyl-, ethyl-, isobutyl-, isohexyl-, and octyl-CA.1 Commercial CA now has widespread use as an all purpose adhesive in various industries, however the main application of CA is as adhesives domestically...