Even in an era in which access to personal
“cleanliness” and a public health infrastructure are
readily available in developed countries, illnesses
associated with day care centres and homes continue
to be a problem. The inhabitants of less developed
countries, on the other hand, must contend with an
inadequate public health infrastructure, lack of
education programmes, and economic limitations in
obtaining hygiene products. Therefore, less developed
countries carry a greater burden of morbidity and
mortality from infectious illnesses. The objective of
this review is to examine and assess the
epidemiological evidence for a causal relation between
hygiene practices and infections. The Medline
database was searched from January 1980 to June 2001
and studies were included if the outcome(s) was
infection or symptoms of infection, and if the
independent variable(s) was one or more hygiene
measures. The strength of the association as measured
by the relative reduction in risk of illness was
appreciable and generally greater than 20%. Despite
methodological strengths and limitations of the
studies assessed, the weight of evidence collectively
suggests that personal and environmental hygiene
reduces the spread of infection. The results from this
review demonstrate that there is a continued,
measurable, positive effect of personal and
community hygiene on infections
Even in an era in which access to personal“cleanliness” and a public health infrastructure arereadily available in developed countries, illnessesassociated with day care centres and homes continueto be a problem. The inhabitants of less developedcountries, on the other hand, must contend with aninadequate public health infrastructure, lack ofeducation programmes, and economic limitations inobtaining hygiene products. Therefore, less developedcountries carry a greater burden of morbidity andmortality from infectious illnesses. The objective ofthis review is to examine and assess theepidemiological evidence for a causal relation betweenhygiene practices and infections. The Medlinedatabase was searched from January 1980 to June 2001and studies were included if the outcome(s) wasinfection or symptoms of infection, and if theindependent variable(s) was one or more hygienemeasures. The strength of the association as measuredby the relative reduction in risk of illness wasappreciable and generally greater than 20%. Despitemethodological strengths and limitations of thestudies assessed, the weight of evidence collectivelysuggests that personal and environmental hygienereduces the spread of infection. The results from thisreview demonstrate that there is a continued,measurable, positive effect of personal andcommunity hygiene on infections
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