“Can religious icons be vectors of infectious diseases in hospital settings?”

Youngster, Ilan; Berkovitch, Matitiahu; Kozer, Eran; Lazarovitch, Zipora; Berkovitch, Sofia; Goldman, Michael

doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2009.03.006

Cited by 5 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…A recent study has shown that it is possible to reduce bacteria on door handles provided they are regularly cleaned. Even with regular cleaning, bacteria were detected on more than 20% of handles [13] .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hospital Door Handle Design and Their Contamination with Bacteria: A Real Life Observational Study. Are We Pulling against Closed Doors?

Wojgani

Kehsa²,

Cloutman-Green³

et al. 2012

PLoS ONE

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ObjectiveTo determine whether microbial contamination of door handles in two busy intensive care units and one high dependency unit was related to their design, location, and usage.DesignObservational study of the number of viable bacteria on existing door handles of different design at defined entry/exit points with simultaneous data collection of who used these doors and how often.SettingTwo busy specialised intensive care units and one high dependency unit in a tertiary referral NHS neurological hospital.Main outcome measuresSurface bacterial density on door handles with reference to design, location, and intensity of use.ResultsWe found a significant correlation between the frequency of movements through a door and the degree to which it was contaminated (p = <0.01). We further found that the door's location, design and mode of use all influenced contamination. When compared to push plate designs, pull handles revealed on average a five fold higher level of contamination; lever handles, however, displayed the highest levels of bacterial contamination when adjusted for frequency of use. We also observed differences in contamination levels at doors between clinical areas, particularly between the operating theatres and one of the ICUs.ConclusionsDoor handles in busy, “real life” high acuity clinical environments were variably contaminated with bacteria, and the number of bacteria found related to design, location, mode and frequency of operation. Largely ignored issues of handle and environmental design can support or undermine strategies designed to limit avoidable pathogen transmission, especially in locations designed to define “thresholds” and impose physical barriers to pathogen transmission between clinical areas. Developing a multidisciplinary approach beyond traditional boundaries for purposes of infection control may release hitherto unappreciated options and beneficial outcomes for the control of at least some hospital acquired infections.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hospital Door Handle Design and Their Contamination with Bacteria: A Real Life Observational Study. Are We Pulling against Closed Doors?

Wojgani

Kehsa²,

Cloutman-Green³

et al. 2012

PLoS ONE

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“…While the superstitions activated by Damisch et al (e.g., keeping one's fingers crossed, having a lucky charm present) are costless, a recent microbiological study reveals that kissing the mezuzah entails a health hazard. Sampling 70 mezuzahs installed on doors of an Israeli medical center, Youngster et al (2009) found they all contained a significant number of pathogens (such as E coli, stafilokokus and candide) that may cause severe infectious diseases. The findings have received extensive press coverage, leading conservative and reform rabbis to rule that kissing mezuzahs, particularly in public places, should be avoided.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Kissing the mezuzah and cognitive performance: Is there an observable benefit?

Siniver

Yaniv

2015

Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization

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“…While the meme itself may influence behavior, religious icons are known to be vectors of infectious diseases [45]. Most major religions have rituals that are likely to promote the transmission of infections.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Midichlorians - the biomeme hypothesis: is there a microbial component to religious rituals?

2014

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BackgroundCutting edge research of human microbiome diversity has led to the development of the microbiome-gut-brain axis concept, based on the idea that gut microbes may have an impact on the behavior of their human hosts. Many examples of behavior-altering parasites are known to affect members of the animal kingdom. Some prominent examples include Ophiocordyceps unilateralis (fungi), Toxoplasma gondii (protista), Wolbachia (bacteria), Glyptapanteles sp. (arthropoda), Spinochordodes tellinii (nematomorpha) and Dicrocoelium dendriticum (flat worm). These organisms belong to a very diverse set of taxonomic groups suggesting that the phenomena of parasitic host control might be more common in nature than currently established and possibly overlooked in humans.Presentation of the hypothesisSome microorganisms would gain an evolutionary advantage by encouraging human hosts to perform certain rituals that favor microbial transmission. We hypothesize that certain aspects of religious behavior observed in the human society could be influenced by microbial host control and that the transmission of some religious rituals could be regarded as the simultaneous transmission of both ideas (memes) and parasitic organisms.Testing the hypothesisWe predict that next-generation microbiome sequencing of samples obtained from gut or brain tissues of control subjects and subjects with a history of voluntary active participation in certain religious rituals that promote microbial transmission will lead to the discovery of microbes, whose presence has a consistent and positive association with religious behavior. Our hypothesis also predicts a decline of participation in religious rituals in societies with improved sanitation.Implications of the hypothesisIf proven true, our hypothesis may provide insights on the origin and pervasiveness of certain religious practices and provide an alternative explanation for recently published positive associations between parasite-stress and religiosity. The discovery of novel microorganisms that affect host behavior may improve our understanding of neurobiology and neurochemistry, while the diversity of such organisms may be of interest to evolutionary biologists and religious scholars.ReviewersThis article was reviewed by Prof. Dan Graur, Dr. Rob Knight and Dr. Eugene Koonin

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“Can religious icons be vectors of infectious diseases in hospital settings?”

Cited by 5 publications

References 14 publications

Hospital Door Handle Design and Their Contamination with Bacteria: A Real Life Observational Study. Are We Pulling against Closed Doors?

Hospital Door Handle Design and Their Contamination with Bacteria: A Real Life Observational Study. Are We Pulling against Closed Doors?

Kissing the mezuzah and cognitive performance: Is there an observable benefit?

Midichlorians - the biomeme hypothesis: is there a microbial component to religious rituals?

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