Found on another group, no URL given:


"Faecal bacteria join the commute

Commuters in the north were dirtier than in the south

More than one in four commuters has bacteria from faeces on their hands, an
investigation suggests.

Scientists from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine swabbed
409 people at bus and train stations in five major cities in England and
Wales.

The further north they went, the more often they found commuters with faecal
bacteria on their hands - men in Newcastle were the worst offenders.

Experts stressed the importance of hand hygiene for preventing illness.
The bacteria found suggested people were not washing their hands properly
after using the toilet, said the researchers.

Toilet hands

In Newcastle and Liverpool, men were more likely than women to show
contamination - 53% of men compared with 30% of women in Newcastle and 36%
of men compared with 31% of women in Liverpool.

We were flabbergasted by the finding that so many people had faecal bugs
on their hands

Dr Val Curtis, director of the Hygiene Centre at the London School of
Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

In the other three cities - London, Cardiff and Birmingham - the women's
hands were dirtier.

People who had used the bus had higher rates of hand contamination than
those who had used the train.

Manual workers had cleaner hands than other professionals, students, retired
people or the unemployed.

Dr Val Curtis, director of the Hygiene Centre at the London School of
Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said: "We were flabbergasted by the finding
that so many people had faecal bugs on their hands.

"The figures were far higher than we had anticipated, and suggest that there
is a real problem with people washing their hands in the UK.

DIRTY HANDS

Newcastle - men 53%, women 30%
Liverpool - men 36%, women 31%
Birmingham - men 21%, women 26%
Cardiff - men 15%, women 29%
Euston (London) - men 6%, women 21%

"If any of these people had been suffering from a diarrhoeal disease, the
potential for it to be passed around would be greatly increased by their
failure to wash their hands after going to the toilet."

Professor Mike Catchpole, director of the Health Protection Agency's Centre
for Infections, said: "These results are startling and should be enough to
make anyone reach for the soap.

"It is well known that hand washing is one of the most important ways of
controlling the spread of infections, especially those that cause diarrhoea
and vomiting, colds and flu.

"People should always wash their hands after using the toilet, before eating
or handling food, and after handling animals. And remember to cover all cuts
and scratches with a waterproof dressing."

Winter vomiting

The HPA's monitoring of infections over recent weeks suggests that cases of
norovirus - the winter vomiting bug - are rising and that the annual
norovirus season is likely to have begun.

Norovirus is the most common cause of gastrointestinal disease in the UK
with peak activity in terms of numbers of cases and outbreaks during the
winter months, from October to March.

It has been estimated that between 600,000 and a million people in the UK
are affected each year.

Professor Catchpole said: "Norovirus is highly infectious and easily spread
in settings where people are in close contact with one another so good
hygiene, including frequent handwashing, is really important."

The study was part of the world's first Global Hand-washing Day, dedicated
to raising awareness about the importance hand hygiene plays in public
health..."

</>

Omelet wrote:

> A good reason for carrying and using sanitary handwipes in the car.
> I have some and use them after shopping, and wipe down my steering wheel.
>
> And I don't consider it to be paranoid.

Several of the grocery stores around here have wipes at the front
entrance by the shopping carts. I use them, and also wipe down the
portions of the cart I will be handling.

While I think all the antibacterial this-n-thats are a bit over-the-top,
I don't have the health history of whoever was using the cart before me,
and it's fairly safe to assume some rotavirus carrying little germ bag
of a child was sitting in the seat portion of the cart. Ick.

--Lin

In article > ,
"Gregory Morrow" > wrote:

> Found on another group, no URL given:
>
>
> "Faecal bacteria join the commute
>
> Commuters in the north were dirtier than in the south
>
> More than one in four commuters has bacteria from faeces on their hands, an
> investigation suggests.
>
<snipped>
> The study was part of the world's first Global Hand-washing Day, dedicated
> to raising awareness about the importance hand hygiene plays in public
> health..."
>
> </>

A good reason for carrying and using sanitary handwipes in the car.
I have some and use them after shopping, and wipe down my steering wheel.

And I don't consider it to be paranoid.
--
Peace! Om

"Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive." -- Dalai Lama

In article > ,
Lin > wrote:

> Omelet wrote:
>
> > A good reason for carrying and using sanitary handwipes in the car.
> > I have some and use them after shopping, and wipe down my steering wheel.
> >
> > And I don't consider it to be paranoid.
>
> Several of the grocery stores around here have wipes at the front
> entrance by the shopping carts. I use them, and also wipe down the
> portions of the cart I will be handling.
>
> While I think all the antibacterial this-n-thats are a bit over-the-top,
> I don't have the health history of whoever was using the cart before me,
> and it's fairly safe to assume some rotavirus carrying little germ bag
> of a child was sitting in the seat portion of the cart. Ick.
>
> --Lin

Or worse, RSV...

I still have the picture in my mind of the last 3 year old little girl
that died from it being cradled over her mom's shoulder a couple of
years ago. Still makes me want to cry.

RSV is VERY contagious and very common in the winter.

And most parents don't know about it.
--
Peace! Om

"Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive." -- Dalai Lama

On Mon, 27 Oct 2008 14:38:12 -0600, Omelet >
wrote:


>Or worse, RSV...
>
>I still have the picture in my mind of the last 3 year old little girl
>that died from it being cradled over her mom's shoulder a couple of
>years ago. Still makes me want to cry.
>
>RSV is VERY contagious and very common in the winter.
>
>And most parents don't know about it.

RSV affects most folks with cold like symptoms, and isn't that
dangerous to healthy folks.

But to AT RISK kids and infants, it can be deadly. Yes, it is
contagious, but for healthy infants and kids, it is not that
dangerous. For premies, and for other kids that are high risk, it is
a bigger danger.

Which is why we don't allow kids in our unit when RSV season starts.
Many folks don't even know they carry it, or have it...it just seems
like a cold.

Yes, I have seen babies die from it, but not in recent years. And the
only babies that died from it, were very much at risk from the start.
And now we give a vaccine for RSV to the at risk babies, before they
go home from the hospital. The healthy babies don't get it.

Christine

On Mon, 27 Oct 2008 18:10:37 -0600, Omelet >
wrote:


>There is a vaccine? Why don't I see that in MY area???

It is only given to high risk infants. It's called Synagis.

Christine

On Mon, 27 Oct 2008 18:22:50 -0600, Omelet >
wrote:


>So tell me... if a 3 yo is not at risk, why did she die of respiratory
>failure? Imho the vaccine should be more widely available.
>
>It really sucked Christine.

Maybe she was at risk, and you didn't know it. Those babies and kids
at risk don't always wear a sign that says that they are at risk.
You might not know that they have significant risk factors....

A healthy, not at risk 3 year old, is generally able to take RSV in
stride.

Christine

On Mon, 27 Oct 2008 18:22:50 -0600, Omelet >
wrote:


>So tell me... if a 3 yo is not at risk, why did she die of respiratory
>failure? Imho the vaccine should be more widely available.
It is widely available, but you won't see it used outside of newborn
ICUs, for the most part.

I bet if you went to your local NICU and asked, you would find out
that it is widely available, and used.

If you want to discuss this more, lets take to email, okay? I try to
keep my discussions here, on food related stuff.....

Christine

Omelet wrote:
>
> In article > ,
> "Gregory Morrow" > wrote:
>
> > Found on another group, no URL given:
> >
> >
> > "Faecal bacteria join the commute
> >
> > Commuters in the north were dirtier than in the south
> >
> > More than one in four commuters has bacteria from faeces on their hands, an
> > investigation suggests.
> >
> <snipped>
> > The study was part of the world's first Global Hand-washing Day, dedicated
> > to raising awareness about the importance hand hygiene plays in public
> > health..."
> >
> > </>
>
> A good reason for carrying and using sanitary handwipes in the car.
> I have some and use them after shopping, and wipe down my steering wheel.
>
> And I don't consider it to be paranoid.

I seem to recall reading a news piece a while back on a study in some
third world country where infant mortality dropped 50% after the study
sponsors provided the community with soap. This was ordinary soap too,
not some special antibacterial one.

In article >,
Christine Dabney > wrote:

> On Mon, 27 Oct 2008 14:38:12 -0600, Omelet >
> wrote:
>
>
> >Or worse, RSV...
> >
> >I still have the picture in my mind of the last 3 year old little girl
> >that died from it being cradled over her mom's shoulder a couple of
> >years ago. Still makes me want to cry.
> >
> >RSV is VERY contagious and very common in the winter.
> >
> >And most parents don't know about it.
>
> RSV affects most folks with cold like symptoms, and isn't that
> dangerous to healthy folks.

Healthy ADULTS. Any toddlers are at risk.

>
> But to AT RISK kids and infants, it can be deadly. Yes, it is
> contagious, but for healthy infants and kids, it is not that
> dangerous. For premies, and for other kids that are high risk, it is
> a bigger danger.

A positive test is still considered to be a critical value and must be
called. For babies tho'. Adults are not normally tested as, like you
say, they are not at risk.

>
> Which is why we don't allow kids in our unit when RSV season starts.
> Many folks don't even know they carry it, or have it...it just seems
> like a cold.
>
> Yes, I have seen babies die from it, but not in recent years. And the
> only babies that died from it, were very much at risk from the start.
> And now we give a vaccine for RSV to the at risk babies, before they
> go home from the hospital. The healthy babies don't get it.
>
> Christine

There is a vaccine? Why don't I see that in MY area???
--
Peace! Om

"Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive." -- Dalai Lama

In article >,
Christine Dabney > wrote:

> On Mon, 27 Oct 2008 18:10:37 -0600, Omelet >
> wrote:
>
>
> >There is a vaccine? Why don't I see that in MY area???
>
> It is only given to high risk infants. It's called Synagis.
>
> Christine

Thanks.

So tell me... if a 3 yo is not at risk, why did she die of respiratory
failure? Imho the vaccine should be more widely available.

It really sucked Christine.
--
Peace! Om

"Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive." -- Dalai Lama

In article >,
Christine Dabney > wrote:

> On Mon, 27 Oct 2008 18:22:50 -0600, Omelet >
> wrote:
>
>
> >So tell me... if a 3 yo is not at risk, why did she die of respiratory
> >failure? Imho the vaccine should be more widely available.
> >
> >It really sucked Christine.
>
> Maybe she was at risk, and you didn't know it. Those babies and kids
> at risk don't always wear a sign that says that they are at risk.
> You might not know that they have significant risk factors....
>
> A healthy, not at risk 3 year old, is generally able to take RSV in
> stride.
>
> Christine

Okay, but it still hurt.

I don't often cry over patient deaths after all these years (21), but
sometimes it still gets to me. <sigh>

I guess if I ever quit caring, it'd be time to get out of the field.
--
Peace! Om

"Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive." -- Dalai Lama

In article >,
Christine Dabney > wrote:

> On Mon, 27 Oct 2008 18:22:50 -0600, Omelet >
> wrote:
>
>
> >So tell me... if a 3 yo is not at risk, why did she die of respiratory
> >failure? Imho the vaccine should be more widely available.
> It is widely available, but you won't see it used outside of newborn
> ICUs, for the most part.
>
> I bet if you went to your local NICU and asked, you would find out
> that it is widely available, and used.
>
> If you want to discuss this more, lets take to email, okay? I try to
> keep my discussions here, on food related stuff.....
>
> Christine

It's all good. I felt more people needed to know about RSV. It really is
not well known. I personally feel any toddlers in day cares should be
vaccinated.

I'll talk to Dr. Statler or Owens next time I see them.

Thanks for the heads up. I really did not know there was a vaccine for
it.

The death of a child always hits me hard.

The last one before this was a newborn that had contracted parvovirus in
utero.

Born with a 5 gram hemoglobin and only lived a few hours.
--
Peace! Om

"Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive." -- Dalai Lama

In article .com>,
"Pete C." > wrote:

> Omelet wrote:
> >
> > In article > ,
> > "Gregory Morrow" > wrote:
> >
> > > Found on another group, no URL given:
> > >
> > >
> > > "Faecal bacteria join the commute
> > >
> > > Commuters in the north were dirtier than in the south
> > >
> > > More than one in four commuters has bacteria from faeces on their hands,
> > > an
> > > investigation suggests.
> > >
> > <snipped>
> > > The study was part of the world's first Global Hand-washing Day,
> > > dedicated
> > > to raising awareness about the importance hand hygiene plays in public
> > > health..."
> > >
> > > </>
> >
> > A good reason for carrying and using sanitary handwipes in the car.
> > I have some and use them after shopping, and wipe down my steering wheel.
> >
> > And I don't consider it to be paranoid.
>
> I seem to recall reading a news piece a while back on a study in some
> third world country where infant mortality dropped 50% after the study
> sponsors provided the community with soap. This was ordinary soap too,
> not some special antibacterial one.

Soap is vastly underestimated. It's just not practical to carry soap
and water in the truck. ;-) Sanitary handwipes are convenient.
--
Peace! Om

"Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive." -- Dalai Lama