Evaluation of the impact of antimicrobial hand towels on hand contamination with Escherichia coli among mothers in Kisumu County, Kenya, 2011–2012

Abstract

Poor hand hygiene contributes to diarrhea in developing countries. Handwashing with soap reduces diarrhea risk, but drying hands on contaminated towels can compromise the benefits of handwashing. In response to the challenge of keeping hands clean, an antimicrobial hand towel was developed and shown to be promising in the laboratory, but has not been adequately tested in the field. We evaluated the effectiveness of an antimicrobial towel in two randomized, doubleblinded crossover trials among mothers with children<5 years old in 125 households in western Kenya. In trial 1, we randomly assigned mothers to use either the treated towel or an identical untreated (placebo) towel and made surprise home visits at random times once a week for three weeks. At each visit, we tested hands for Escherichia coli using sterile hand rinses, then switched towel types in the two groups and repeated three weekly rounds of E. coli testing. In crossover trial 2, we compared E. coli contamination of maternal hands immediately following three different handwashing/drying procedures: soap and water + treated towel, water only + treated towel, and soap and water + air dry. There was no statistically significant difference in the level of E. coli contamination on maternal hands by type of towel used during trial 1 (odds ratio for treated vs untreated towel: 1.14, 95% confidence interval 0.83-1.56). In trial 2, there were no significant differences in E. coli contamination of maternal hands by handwashing/drying procedure. In these trials, use of antimicrobial hand towels did not prevent E. coli contamination of mothers' hands in Kenyan households during random testing and offered no advantages over standard handwashing and drying practices. Handwashing with soap and clean water and drying with clean towels are recommended.

Bacterial Colonization of Students’ Bath Towels in a Tertiary Educational Centre in Owo, Nigeria

“…Staphylococcus aureus is a regular human colonizer that can be found in the anterior nares of as much as 60% in some populations and associated with a wide range of human infections that can vary from minor superficial to severe illnesses that could lead to fatality [18][19][20][21]. Transference of Staphylococcus aureus through contaminated hands from such towels to food may serve as antecedent to foodborne diarrheic illness that has been observed from other studies [7]. Escherichia coli (20.2%) was the next most frequently encountered microorganism and as a typical enteric bacterium, represents a sign of faecal contamination of the towels.…”

“…The standard towel in the home or public arena has been recognized as being accountable for the transfer of pathogenic microorganisms in the home, healthcare institutions and within the community [5][6]. The realization that re-useable towels contribute to inadequate hand hygiene that is traceable to illnesses in developing countries is central to the drive for the elimination of the re-useable towel from restaurants and other public places [7] and replacement with hand dryers after hand washing [8]. Current literature indicates that antimicrobial impregnated textiles and redesign of the mopping towels are being considered for use in healthcare settings as a sustainable means to put under check the ever rising cases of hospital acquired infections, HAIs world-wide [9][10].…”

Extraction Of Flavonoid, Phenolic, And Saponin In Shallot Skin (Allium Cepa Var. Aggregatum) For Antibacterial Application

“…Escherichia coli (E. coli) is one of the most common bacteria that cause infection in daily life [5]. This bacteria is widely found on human hands due to the unhygienic habit of not washing hands or due to recontamination [6]. Therefore, in this study, E. coli bacteria were used to test the antibacterial activity of the shallot skin.…”

Enhancing Contact Tracing for Serratia marcescens Biofilm on High-Usage Body Towels in Rivers State Bathrooms

“…The frequent placement of body towels in the bathroom could expose the towels to bacteria. According to Kim et al (2019), the soft piece of cloth (towel) is used to dry the body after bathe and is always placed on the doorknob after every use where it dries from its damp state. Body towels used in the home share a common purpose of being moisture-absorbent.…”