Return to search

Efficacy of handwashing as an aid in the control of rotavirus and Giardia transmission

Diarrhea caused by rotavirus and Giardia is a major health problem among children attending day-care centers because of inadequate personnel hygiene. Epidemiological evidence suggesting person-to-person transmission of enteric pathogens has long been recognized. This study was initiated to investigate the effectiveness of handwashing for the removal of rotavirus and Giardia from contaminated hands. The palms of participant hands were innoculated with approximately 103 Giardia cysts or 105 plaque forming units of rotavirus and the effect of washing using tap water alone, a liquid soap or a bar soap on their removal was assessed. Handwashing with liquid soap was found to be very effective in the removal of rotavirus and Giardia cysts as compared to washing with bar soap or tap water alone. The overall recovery of viruses in both bar soap and liquid soap was low (0.03-22.5%), probably due to virus inactivation by the detergent.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:arizona.edu/oai:arizona.openrepository.com:10150/277209
Date January 1989
CreatorsManthriratna, Gothami Anoma, 1963-
ContributorsGerba, Charles P.
PublisherThe University of Arizona.
Source SetsUniversity of Arizona
Languageen_US
Detected LanguageEnglish
Typetext, Thesis-Reproduction (electronic)
RightsCopyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author.

Page generated in 0.002 seconds