title: A risk assessment approach to use of antimicrobials in the home to prevent spread of infection.
abstract: Home and everyday life hygiene is a key part of the public health strategy to reduce infectious disease, but an effective code of practice is required. This short review summarizes the basic scientific principles of a risk-based approach to home hygiene where hygiene procedures are applied at critical points at appropriate times. It suggests that, although detergent-based cleaning can be used to break the chain of infection, in some cases an antimicrobial agent is required.
authors.affiliation: International Scientific Forum on Home Hygiene, London, United Kingdom. sallyfbloomfield@aol.com
authors.forename: Sally F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Bloomfield
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Scott
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003902:Detergents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D063373:Hand Hygiene / Q000379:methods*; D006794:Household Articles; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D018570:Risk Assessment
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D003902:Detergents