Is swimming in recreational water associated with the occurrence of respiratory illness? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

This study represents the first systematic review and meta-analysis conducted to assess the association between swimming in recreational water and the occurrence of respiratory illness. Most studies focus their attention on gastrointestinal illnesses occurring after exposure to microbial polluted water. Fourteen independent studies that included 50,117 patients with significant heterogeneity (I(2) = 95.

Meat intake and non-Hodgkin lymphoma: a meta-analysis of observational studies.

Purpose: High intake of meat has been inconsistently associated with increased risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). We carried out a meta-analysis to summarize the evidence of published observational studies reporting association between red meat and processed meat intake and NHL risk.

Methods: Analytical studies reporting relative risks with 95 % confidence intervals (95 % CI) for the association between intake of red and/or processed meat and NHL or major histological subtypes were eligible.

[Latent tuberculosis infection: prevalence amongst healthcare students at the Sapienza University of Rome (Italy)].

Healthcare workers, including medical, dentistry and nursing students, have an increased risk of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. In this study the prevalence of tuberculin skin test (TST) positivity (defined as induration ≥ 5 mm) among healthcare students enrolled at the Sapienza University of Rome (Italy) in the years 2011-2012 was evaluated. Overall, 2,519 students with a mean age of 20.

Microbiological safety of glasses dispensed at 3D movie theatres.

Recent popularity of three-dimensional movies raised some concern about microbiological safety of glasses dispensed into movie theatres. In this study, we analysed the level of microbiological contamination on them before and after use and between theatres adopting manual and automatic sanitation systems. The manual sanitation system was more effective in reducing the total mesophilic count levels compared with the automatic system (P < 0.

Occupational biological risk knowledge and perception: results from a large survey in Rome, Italy.

Background: A cross-sectional survey on knowledge and perception of occupational biological risk among workers in several occupations was carried out in the industrial area of Rome.

Methods: The study was carried out in the period of March-April 2010 using a questionnaire with 33 items on the following areas: a) socio-demographic data; b) perception of the biological risks in ordinary occupational activity; c) knowledge about biological risks; d) biological risks in the working environment. The questionnaire was submitted to a convenience sample of workers of an industrial area in Southern Rome.

[Risk communication during health crises: results of a cross-sectional study to evaluate the effectiveness of adopted corporate communication strategies during the H1N1 influenza pandemic in Italy and on the training needs of health professionals].

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effectiveness of corporate communication activities carried out during the A(H1N1) pandemic influenza in Italy and to identify educational needs of health professionals with regards to crisis communication. The study compared two samples representing respectively the general population and health professionals, living in different regions of northern, central and southern Italy. A self-administered questionnaire was used, with questions on knowledge about preventive measures during a pandemic and on satisfaction with the adopted communication campaigns.