BUGS IN THE BATHROOM

We spend a lot of time worrying about the bugs that are getting into our food. However, several studies have shown that a large proportion of gastro-enteric infections actually originate within the home, presumably through poor hygiene. Family members can excrete millions of pathogens every day, even if they have no symptoms of diarrhoea. Kids and adults don’t always wash their hands or use soap after the toilet, and nappy changing and potty training can also provide a source of pathogens.

Not very much is known about the faecal-oral route of transmission in the home, little is known about the specific practices that might be putting health at risk and even less is known about the reasons why people do what they do. A team from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine are co-ordinating a major multidisciplinary research proposal to investigate this problem and to develop effective interventions to prevent intra-household spread of microbes. Partners from Italy, Sweden, Romania, Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Ireland, Poland and others with collaboration from Unilever, will investigate bathroom and toilet hygiene practices using microbiological and social science techniques and develop interventions to encourage behaviour change. Eventually we hope to develop more effective approaches to hygiene promotion across Europe which are based on what people know, want and do.

The proposal will be submitted to the EC’s new fifth framework programme for funding in the autumn. The team are interested in locating others working in similar areas for a potential ‘cluster’. For further information please contact

Valerie Curtis
Lecturer in Hygiene Promotion
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Roghorst 123, Wageningen 6708 KE, NL
Valcurtis@compuserve.com