Editing Hygiene (section)

=== Home hygiene overview ===
Home hygiene pertains to the hygiene practices that prevent or minimize the spread of disease at home and other everyday settings such as social settings, public transport, the workplace, public places, and more. Hygiene in a variety of settings plays an important role in preventing the spread of infectious diseases.<ref name="globalburden">{{cite web|vauthors=Bloomfield SF, Exner M, Fara GM, Nath KJ, Scott EA, Van der Voorden C|title=The global burden of hygiene-related diseases in relation to the home and community|url=https://www.ifh-homehygiene.org/review/global-burden-hygiene-related-diseases-relation-home-and-community|publisher=International Scientific Forum on Home Hygiene|year=2009}}</ref> It includes procedures like hand hygiene, respiratory hygiene, food and water hygiene, general home hygiene (hygiene of environmental sites and surfaces), care of domestic animals, and home health care (the care of those who are at greater risk of infection).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Surface Hygiene {{!}} HARTMANN SCIENCE CENTER |url=https://www.hartmann-science-center.com/en/hygiene-knowledge/surface-hygiene |access-date=2024-07-23 |website=www.hartmann-science-center.com |language=en}}</ref>

At present, these components of hygiene tend to be regarded as separate issues, although based on the same underlying microbiological principles. Preventing the spread of diseases means breaking the chain of infection transmission so that infection cannot spread. "Targeted hygiene" is based on identifying the routes of pathogen spread in the home and introducing hygiene practices at critical times to break the chain of infection.<ref name="ISFHH 2021">{{cite book|title=Developing and promoting hygiene in home and everyday life to meet 21st Century needs|publisher=the International Scientific Forum on Home Hygiene|date=July 2021|url=https://www.ifh-homehygiene.org/sites/default/files/publications/2021%20IFH%20White%20Paper%2038pp%20%281%29.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220517010101/https://www.ifh-homehygiene.org/sites/default/files/publications/2021%20IFH%20White%20Paper%2038pp%20%281%29.pdf |archive-date=2022-05-17 }}</ref> It uses a [[probabilistic risk analysis|risk-based approach]] based on Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point ([[HACCP]]).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Environmental hygiene in healthcare |url=https://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/Public+Content/SA+Health+Internet/Clinical+Resources/Clinical+Programs+and+Practice+Guidelines/Infection+and+injury+management/Healthcare+associated+infections/Prevention+and+management+of+infections+in+healthcare+settings/Environmental+hygiene+in+healthcare |access-date=2024-07-23 |website=Government of South Australia}}</ref>

The main sources of infection in the home are people (who are carriers or are infected), foods (particularly raw foods), water, pets, and domestic animals.<ref name="bloomfield2012" /> Sites that accumulate stagnant water – such as sinks, [[toilet]]s, waste pipes, cleaning tools, and face cloths – readily support microbial growth and can become secondary reservoirs of infection, though species are mostly those that threaten "at risk" groups. [[Pathogens]] (such as potentially infectious bacteria and viruses – colloquially called "germs") are constantly shed via mucous membranes, feces, vomit, skin scales, and other means. When circumstances combine, people are exposed, either directly or via food or water, and can develop an infection.<ref>{{Cite web |title=environmental hygiene — European Environment Agency |url=https://www.eea.europa.eu/help/glossary/eea-glossary/environmental-hygiene#:~:text=Practical%20prevention%20and%20control%20measures,quality%20of%20the%20human%20environment. |access-date=2024-07-23 |website=www.eea.europa.eu |language=en}}</ref>

The main "highways" for the spread of pathogens in the home are the hands, hand and food contact surfaces, and cleaning cloths and utensils (e.g. [[fecal–oral route]] of transmission). Pathogens can also be spread via clothing and household linens, such as [[towels]]. Utilities such as toilets and wash basins were invented to deal safely with human waste but still have risks associated with them. Safe disposal of human waste is a fundamental need; poor [[sanitation]] is a primary cause of diarrhea disease in low-income communities. Respiratory viruses and fungal spores spread via the air.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Environmental health |url=https://www.who.int/health-topics/environmental-health |access-date=2024-07-23 |website=www.who.int |language=en}}</ref>

Good home hygiene means engaging in hygiene practices at critical points to break the chain of infection.<ref name="ISFHH 2021" /><ref name="bloomfield2012" /> Because the "infectious dose" for some pathogens can be very small (10–100 viable units or even less for some viruses), and infection can result from direct transfer of pathogens from surfaces via hands or food to the mouth, nasal mucous, or the eye, "hygienic cleaning" procedures should be adopted to eliminate pathogens from critical surfaces.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Around home – household hygiene – Hygiene for Health |url=https://hygieneforhealth.org.au/home/ |access-date=2024-07-23 |language=en-US}}</ref>
[[File:Pupil washes hands during COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana.jpg|thumb|Hand washing during pandemic ]]