Consumption of energy drinks among Italian University students : a cross-sectional multicenter study

Purpose The aim of the study was to evaluate the caffeinated Energy Drinks (EDs) consumption among a large sample of Italian undergraduates and its association with some of the major lifestyle risk factors. Methods Students attending twelve public Italian universities were involved between October 2021 and May 2022. Information on socio-demographic characteristics, ED consumption, and on health-related behaviors of participants was collected by the use of a web-based questionnaire. Results A total of 2165 students participated in the study and 15.2% of them reported having used caffeinated EDs in the last six months, mainly once a month (41.5%). In comparison with non-users, ED users showed a higher proportion of males (p < 0.001) and a higher father’s educational level (p = 0.003), came mainly from Northern universities (p = 0.004) and life sciences degree courses (p < 0.001). Besides, ED users reported higher BMI values (p = 0.003), more particular dietary regimens (p < 0.001), higher levels of weekly moderate–vigorous physical activity (p < 0.001) and participation in sports (p < 0.001) and in team sports (p = 0.003), and higher proportion of smokers (p < 0.001) and alcohol drinkers (p = 0.005). ED use was negatively related with female gender (OR 0.546; 95% CI 0.374–0.798), the Mediterranean diet (OR 0.587; 95% CI 0.362–0.951) and coming from the center of Italy (OR 0.500; 95% CI 0.275–0.909) and positively associated with tobacco smoke (OR 1.712; 95% CI 1.176–2.492) and participation in a team sport (OR 1.686; 95% CI 1.051–2.707). Conclusion These findings could encourage figures engaged in education to increase the students’ awareness on this issue in order to prevent the excessive use of EDs and associated unhealthy behaviors, especially in the most interested subgroups

<i>Legionella</i> spp. in Thermal Facilities: A Public Health Issue in the One Health Vision

Thermal facilities comprise a wide spectrum of recreational and therapeutic activities with the number of customers increasing over time despite the break that occurred during the first phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. In order to evaluate the potential role played by this setting in the risk of contracting legionellosis, we conducted a cross-sectional study to evaluate the presence of Legionella spp. in some Italian thermal facilities. Specifically, we retrospectively analyzed the results of a 16-year surveillance carried out before the COVID-19 pandemic. Of 409 samples, 70 (17.1%) were positive with Legionella spp. but there was an overall decrease over time. L. pneumophila 2–14 were by far the most common detected serotypes, while L. pneumophila 1 accounted for only 8.8%. Of all the different kind of samples, swabs and municipal water samples were the most contaminated. Moreover, in the positive samples, bacterial load was often at intermediate values. In only a small percentage of samples was load high and, in this case, L. pneumophila 1 was often the most common strain. Our results show the importance of a continuous monitoring of Legionella risk in these settings, even more so now after the COVID-19 pandemic and the prolonged break in activities. Water is the natural environment of Legionella spp. and environment in general plays a crucial role in the transmission of these bacteria; therefore, it would be useful to frame this infection in a “One Health” key

Hand washing in operating room: a procedural comparison

BACKGROUND Hand washing has been considered a measure of personal hygiene for centuries and it is known that an improper hand hygiene by healthcare workers is responsible for about 40% of nosocomial infections. Therefore, surgical hand preparation is a critical element for healthcare safety in order to reduce microbial contamination of&nbsp; surgical wound in case of non detected break of the gloves. The aim of our study is to evaluate the efficacy three antiseptics: Povi-iodine scrub; EPG (Ethanol, Hydrogen Peroxide, Glycerol, recommended by WHO), and common marseille soap type in a liquid formulation. METHODS It was designed a randomized, double-blind, single-center study conducted in the University Hospital of Messina, from January to June 2013. We asked operators to put the fingertips of their right hand (if not left-handed) for one minute on the PCA medium, before washing with the three types of antiseptics, and after washing and drying. Drying was made using sterile gauzes or disposable wipes. Then, we measured the number of colony forming units per mL (CFU/mL) and calculated the percentage of microbial load reduction. RESULTS 211 samples have been considered for statistical analysis: in 42 samples, in fact, initial microbial load was lower than after washing. Washing with EPG reduced CFU/ml from&nbsp; a mean of 38,9 to 4,1 (86,5% reduction), washing with povi-iodine scrub from 59,55 to 12,9 (75,9% reduction) and washing with Marseille soap from 47,26 to 12,7 (64,3% reduction). CONCLUSIONS Our study shows that washing with EPG has superior efficacy in CFU reduction. Antiseptic hand washing, however, cannot be considered the only measure to reduce infections: the anomaly of some results (initial microbial load lower than after washing)&nbsp; demonstrates that drying is an essential phase in the presurgical preparation. Therefore, hand hygiene must be part of a more complex strategy of surveillance and control of nosocomial infection

Assessment of Dietary Supplement Consumption among Italian University Students: the Multicenter DiSCo Study

Objective: To analyze the consumption of dietary supplements (DSs) and related sociodemographic characteristics or behaviors among Italian undergraduates. Research Methods &amp; Procedures: A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was carried out between October 2021 and May 2022 involving undergraduates from twelve public universities. The use of DSs in the previous six months, the aim and the reason for use, the purchasing channel and related adverse effects were explored and compared by gender. A logistic regression was performed to highlight possible associations between sociodemographic, anthropometric and behavioral characteristics of participants and supplement consumption. Results: The use of DSs was reported by 71.5% of the 2,165 respondents. Supplementation was related with greater age (OR 1.266, CI95% 0.965-1.660), gender (OR 1.266, CI95% 0.965-1.660 for males), particular diet regimens (OR 3.559, CI95% 1.247-10.159), sport (OR 1.713, CI95% 1.138-2.581) and type of sport (0.608, CI95% 0.411-0.899 for team sports). Women were more keen to use DSs following a doctor’s prescription and to buy them in a pharmacy (p&lt;0.001) but reported more adverse effects (p=0.018) than men. The main aim pursued was general health; proteins, amino acids and non-caffeinated energy supplements were consumed to improve physical performance, and caffeinated energy supplements for mental performance. Conclusions: Diet supplementation was common in the sample examined, especially among females, and associated with particular dietary regimens and sport, especially individual sports. Female consumers follow specialists’ indications more than males. These results highlight the need of educational interventions about diet supplementation for this category of users