Recent studies suggest that sand can serve as a vehicle for exposure of humans to pathogens at beach sites, resulting in increased health risks. Sampling for microorganisms in sand should therefore be considered for inclusion in regulatory programmes aimed at protecting recreational beach users from infectious disease. Here, we review the literature on pathogen levels in beach sand, and their potential for affecting human health. In an effort to provide specific recommendations for sand sampling programmes, we outline published guidelines for beach monitoring programmes, which are currently focused exclusively on measuring microbial levels in water. We also provide background on spatial distribution and temporal characteristics of microbes in sand, as these factors influence sampling programmes. First steps toward establishing a sand sampling programme include identifying appropriate beach sites and use of initial sanitary assessments to refine site selection. A tiered approach is recommended for monitoring. This approach would include the analysis of samples from many sites for faecal indicator organisms and other conventional analytes, while testing for specific pathogens and unconventional indicators is reserved for high-risk sites. Given the diversity of microbes found in sand, studies are urgently needed to identify the most significant aetiological agent of disease and to relate microbial measurements in sand to human health risk.
Acta Med Port 2016 Jan;29(1):5-9 RESUMOAs atuais estratégias de saúde europeias preconizam um reforço do papel da saúde pública, exigindo dos decisores a capacidade de defender e potenciar a saúde dos indivíduos e das populações em todas as políticas. Na persecução deste objetivo, a saúde pública deve ser baseada em evidência, informação e conhecimento. Deste modo, a vigilância em saúde pública que desde o século XIX é tida como um importante instrumento de saúde pública, assume um papel central na sua prática por levar à produção e disseminação de informação de saúde necessária ao planeamento, implementação e ações de saúde pública. No âmbito da prática da saúde pública, as estimativas de frequência de doenças necessárias para o controlo de surtos, definição de necessidades em saúde e avaliação de ganhos em saúde nem sempre estão disponíveis para a totalidade da população pelo que a utilização de sistemas de vigilância sentinela se assume vantajosa na vigilância de doenças de elevada prevalência. No âmbito das doenças crónicas, a definição de um sistema de vigilância centrado na atividade dos especialistas de Medicina Geral e Familiar afigura-se como o mais adequado, dado o crescente papel do médico de família na gestão da doença crónica. Em Portugal, existe uma rede sentinela (Rede Médicos-Sentinela) que ao longo de 25 anos se tem ocupado da descrição de fenómenos de saúde através da estimativa de taxas de incidência sendo que, alguns dos problemas estudados são alvo de programas prioritários. Assim, considera-se que a Rede Médicos-Sentinela possa ser perspetivada como um sistema de vigilância de doenças crónicas em Portugal. Palavras-chave: Portugal; Rede Médicos Sentinela; Vigilância em Saúde Pública. ABSTRACTCurrent strategies of European health advocate the strengthening of the role of public health, requiring from decision-makers the ability to defend and enhance the health of individuals and populations in all policies. In the pursuit of this objective, public health should be evidence-based and so public health Surveillance, seen as an important tool of public health since the nineteenth century, plays a central role in public health practice through the production and dissemination of the health information necessary for health planning and for evaluation of public health actions. Within the practice of public health estimations of disease frequency are important for outbreak control, health assessment, health needs assessment and estimation of health gains, but unfortunately these estimations are not always available for the entire population. In those cases and for diseases with high prevalence sentinel surveillance based in sentinel networks have some advantages for specific groups, namely needed of scarce resources and obtainment of quick results. The central role of family doctors in chronic disease management, their knowledge on individuals and families and their responsibilities in the management of a clear defined patients list are characteristics that make general practice an appropriate conte...
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.