Equivalent reduction of Escherichia coli by rinsing hands with cold and warm water.

Objective: Hand washing is considered an important public health intervention to reduce the burden of communicable diseases such as gastrointestinal and respiratory tract infections. Washbasins in public restrooms are often only equipped with cold water and it can be observed that people only rinse their hands briefly after using the toilet instead of washing them properly with soap. As there are no recommendations on the optimal water temperature for efficacy, we measured the efficacy of simple hand rinsing with cold (4°C) and warm (40°C) water for 10 and 20 seconds compared to the European Norm EN 1499 reference hand wash.

Does the COVID-19 Vaccination Reduce the Risk to Transmit SARS-CoV-2 to Others?

It has been assumed that the COVID-19 vaccination reduces the risk of transmission to others. Results during the delta predominance show that the viral load in the vaccinated population is not consistently lower compared to the unvaccinated, and during the omicron predominance, the viral load was even somewhat higher. Levels of infectious SARS-CoV-2 were partly lower in the vaccinated population.

Effect of Face Masking on Transmission of SARS-CoV-2.

The efficacy of face masking for the public is not convincing to prevent the transmission of respiratory tract viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 when the criteria of evidence-based medicine are applied. This finding is mainly explained by the results from randomized-controlled trials (RCTs) when a high prevalence of the infection and a high compliance in mask wearing was assured. Throughout these studies no significant protective effect was observed.

Evaluation of a microscale quantitative suspension test to determine the bactericidal and yeasticidal activity of glutaral - one step to improve sustainability in disinfectant testing.

Aims: To evaluate a newly developed microscale quantitative suspension test compared to the existing standard suspension test using determination of the bactericidal and yeasticidal activity of glutaral as one step to improve the sustainability of disinfectant testing.

Methods: The testing principles of the quantitative suspension test according to VAH method 9 (comparable to EN 13727) was used as a standard suspension test using 8.0 mL product test solution, 1.

How reliable are test results from 17 laboratories on the basis of EN 1500 for a hand rub based on 80% (w/w)?

Introduction: A ring trial organized by the Association of Applied Hygiene (VAH) on the bactericidal efficacy of an ethanol-based hand rub was carried out in 17 laboratories according to EN 1500 with the aim of describing the variability of test results and fulfilment of the methodological acceptance criteria.

Method: As a test product, a hand rub based on 80% ethanol (w/w) was tested in comparison with the reference alcohol (60% iso-propanol, v/v) in a crossover design. After pre-washing and contamination following the norm, hands were treated either with the reference alcohol (2 × 3 mL for 2 × 30 s) or the test product (3 mL in 30 s).