The public health impact of infection control, sterilization and regulation in tattooing

  Background: The purpose of this study was to look at infection control and sterilization procedures in relation to invasive services performed at Personal Service Establishments (PSEs) in British Columbia. The objective was to collect data on the opinions of regulation and infection control practices of persons currently working in the industries of: tattooing, micro-blading and permanent make-up. Method: Data was collected from a survey that was created and distributed online through Survey Monkey. A list of 261 personal service establishments throughout Vancouver Costal Health and Fraser Health were called and/or e-mailed and asked to participate in the online survey. Results and Analyses: Among the 261 PSEs contacted, 30 agreed to participate. They were asked about the regulation of their profession and their standard practices for infection control and sterilization. 3% of the respondent’s primary service was permanent make-up, 7% micro-blading, 7% piercing and 80% was tattooing. The majority of opinions on regulation were divided where 50% felt the industry was under regulated and 40% felt it was adequately regulated. 90% of the respondents agreed that formal training should be required before being allowed to tattoo and 43% of the respondents also agreed that the use of an autoclave should require certification. For infection control/sterilization procedures 100% of shops use one-time use (disposable) needles and ink caps, 80% use disposable tubes, 93% use cord and machine covers and 90% use disposable razors. 63% of the respondents do not use autoclaves because they use disposable items and therefore do not need to clean and sterilize re-usable equipment. The data compared in chi-squared analysis, age and formal training had a p-value of 0.01460 which indicates that there is an association between age and the belief that formal training should be required for those who practice tattooing. Those under 40 were more likely to indicate that formal training should be required. Conclusion: With a low response rate for micro-blading and permanent make-up it is not feasible to compare or contrast opinions and/or practices between the three services. The tattooing industry had the highest response rate and can be looked at in more detail. The information collected on tattooing could be used to develop a course to improve the safety of PSE’s. EHO knowledge in inspecting food service establishments is very high as a system has been put into place that ensures effective inspections. As well, the FOODSAFE program teaches safe practices to those who work in the kitchen. The growing popularity of PSEs now gives EHOs the opportunity to focus on creating safe work environments through the implementation of a training course and possibly altering the way inspections of each different PSE are conducted. Results of this study, along with other Canadian published data, should be considered when developing standardized training and education in the industry where invasive procedures are used. &nbsp

Evidence review of physical distancing and partition screens to reduce healthcare acquired SARS-CoV-2

We review the evidence base for two newly introduced Infection prevention and control strategies within UK hospitals. The new standard infection control precaution of 2 metres physical distancing and the use of partition screens as a means of source control of infection for SARS-CoV-2. Following review of Ovid-MEDLINE and governmental SAGE outputs there is limited evidence to support the use of 2 metres physical distancing and partition screens within healthcare

Closing the carbon loop in sugarcane bioethanol : effects of filtercake biochar amendment on soil quality, leaching and carbon utilization

Commodity prices and rural development in Brazil are driving the rapid conversion of the Cerrado biome, a highly diverse ecosystem with nutrient-poor soils. The expanding agricultural footprint includes sugarcane for bioethanol production, which boasts one of the highest net energy yields of commercial biofuels. However, energetic assessments fail to consider ecosystem costs, including soil degradation and impacts on water quality through the release of organic effluents. This thesis examined the use of charcoal or biochar made of ‘waste’ biomass (filtercake) as a soil amendment to reduce soil carbon (C) loss and water quality impairment. The effect of biochar on the leaching of a liquid waste with high eutrophication potential, vinasse, was also examined. Soil amendment with filtercake biochar improved soil pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), nutrient availability (P, K, Mg, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, and Zn), and water retention. Amendment with filtercake biochar rather than raw filtercake also greatly decreased CO₂ loss to rapid mineralization. Furthermore, biochar amendment decreased the loss of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) from a cultivated Ferralsol, with or without co-application of vinasse, through preferential retention of larger and more complex, humified DOC species. In contrast, biochar did not attenuate nitrate (NO₃-) leaching. Finally, δ¹³C isotope analyses were used to examine the effect of raw vs. pyrolyzed residues on C turnover in an uncultivated soil, which suggested that whereas raw filtercake appeared to be mineralized preferentially over native soil organic carbon (SOC), biochar application appeared to provoke mineralization of native SOC. Overall, this project suggest that filtercake biochar may represent a valuable opportunity to better manage solid and liquid organic agricultural wastes in bioethanol production, with the potential to close nutrient loops and improve soil quality. However, further work is required to better understand the effect of filtercake biochar on soil C turnover and its long-term stability.Science, Faculty ofResources, Environment and Sustainability (IRES), Institute forGraduat

From Science to Policy and Practice: A Critical Assessment of Knowledge Management before, during, and after Environmental Public Health Disasters

Canada regularly faces environmental public health (EPH) disasters. Given the importance of evidence-based, risk-informed decision-making, we aimed to critically assess the integration of EPH expertise and research into each phase of disaster management. In-depth interviews were conducted with 23 leaders in disaster management from Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, and were complemented by other qualitative methods. Three topics were examined: governance, knowledge creation/translation, and related barriers/needs. Data were analyzed through a four-step content analysis. Six critical success factors emerged from the analysis: blending the best of traditional and modern approaches; fostering community engagement; cultivating relationships; investing in preparedness and recovery; putting knowledge into practice; and ensuring sufficient human and financial resources. Several promising knowledge-to-action strategies were also identified, including mentorship programs, communities of practice, advisory groups, systematized learning, and comprehensive repositories of tools and resources. There is no single roadmap to incorporate EPH expertise and research into disaster management. Our findings suggest that preparation for and management of EPH disaster risks requires effective long-term collaboration between science, policy, and EPH practitioners at all levels in order to facilitate coordinated and timely deployment of multi-sectoral/jurisdictional resources when and where they are most needed

From Science to Policy and Practice: A Critical Assessment of Knowledge Management Before, During, and After Environmental Public Health Disasters

Introduction:Canada, like many countries, increasingly faces environmental public health (EPH) disasters. Such disasters often require both short- and long-term responses, necessitate evacuation and relocation, cause major environmental impacts, and generate the need for specific knowledge and expertise (chemistry, epidemiology, risk assessment, mental health, etc.).Aim:Given the importance of evidence-based, risk-informed decision making, we aimed to critically assess the integration of EPH expertise and research into each phase of disaster risk management in several Canadian and other jurisdictions.Methods:In-depth interviews were conducted with 23 leaders in disaster risk management from Canada, United States, United Kingdom, and Australia, and were complemented by other methods (i.e. participant observation, information gathered from participation in scientific events, and document review). Three criteria were explored: governance, knowledge creation and translation, and related needs and barriers. An interview guide was developed based on a standardized toolkit from the World Health Organization. Data were analyzed through a four-step content analysis.Results:Six cross-cutting themes emerged from the analysis. These themes are identified as critical factors in successful disaster knowledge management: 1) blending the best of traditional and modern approaches, 2) fostering community engagement; 3) cultivating relationships, 4) investing in preparedness and recovery, 5) putting knowledge into practice, and 6) ensuring sufficient human and financial resources. A wide range of promising knowledge-to-action strategies was also identified, including mentorship programs, communities of practice, advisory groups, systematized learning, and comprehensive repositories of tools and resources.Discussion:There is no single roadmap to incorporate EPH knowledge and expertise into disaster risk management. Our findings suggest that beyond structures and plans, it is necessary to cultivate relationships and share responsibility for ensuring the safety, health, and wellbeing of affected communities while respecting the local culture, capacity, and autonomy. Any such considerations should be incorporated into disaster risk management planning.</jats:sec