International Scientific Forum on Home Hygiene

Home Hygiene & Health

The Leading Source of Scientific, Professional & Consumer Information
International Scientific Forum on Home Hygiene

Home Hygiene & Health

The Leading Source of Scientific, Professional & Consumer Information

High fecal hand contamination among wilderness hikers

Information about hand hygiene and faecal hand contamination among the general public is limited. Studies among backpackers have demonstrated that reported poor hygiene is associated with diarrhoeal illness. Hands are an important vector in transmission of various pathogenic bacteria. We found high (31%) prevalence of faecal hand contamination among healthy adults engaged in hiking.