title: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Evaluation of the Health Impact of a Novel Antimicrobial Hand Towel on the Health of Children Under 2 Years Old in Rural Communities in Nyanza Province, Kenya.
abstract: To assess the health impact of reusable, antimicrobial hand towels, we conducted a cluster randomized, yearlong field trial. At baseline, we surveyed mothers, and gave four towels plus hygiene education to intervention households and education alone to controls. At biweekly home visits, we asked about infections in children < 2 years old and tested post-handwashing hand rinse samples of 20% of mothers for Escherichia coli. At study's conclusion, we tested 50% of towels for E. coli. Baseline characteristics between 188 intervention and 181 control households were similar. Intervention and control children had similar rates of diarrhea (1.47 versus 1.48, P = 0.99), respiratory infections (1.38 versus 1.48, P = 0.92), skin infections (1.76 versus 1.79, P = 0.81), and subjective fever (2.62 versus 3.40, P = 0.04) per 100 person-visits. Post-handwashing hand contamination was similar; 67% of towels exhibited E. coli contamination. Antimicrobial hand towels became contaminated over time, did not improve hand hygiene, or prevent diarrhea, respiratory infections, or skin infections.
authors.affiliation: Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Epidemic Intelligence Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Safe Water and AIDS Project, Kisumu, Kenya via3@cdc.gov.
authors.forename: Rachel B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Slayton
authors.affiliation: Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Epidemic Intelligence Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Safe Water and AIDS Project, Kisumu, Kenya.
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.affiliation: Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Epidemic Intelligence Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Safe Water and AIDS Project, Kisumu, Kenya.
authors.forename: Jamae
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.affiliation: Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Epidemic Intelligence Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Safe Water and AIDS Project, Kisumu, Kenya.
authors.forename: Sitnah Hamidah
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Faith
authors.affiliation: Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Epidemic Intelligence Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Safe Water and AIDS Project, Kisumu, Kenya.
authors.forename: Jared
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Oremo
authors.affiliation: Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Epidemic Intelligence Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Safe Water and AIDS Project, Kisumu, Kenya.
authors.forename: Aloyce
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Odhiambo
authors.affiliation: Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Epidemic Intelligence Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Safe Water and AIDS Project, Kisumu, Kenya.
authors.forename: Tracy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ayers
authors.affiliation: Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Epidemic Intelligence Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Safe Water and AIDS Project, Kisumu, Kenya.
authors.forename: Shawna J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Feinman
authors.affiliation: Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Epidemic Intelligence Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Safe Water and AIDS Project, Kisumu, Kenya.
authors.forename: Allison C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Epidemic Intelligence Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Safe Water and AIDS Project, Kisumu, Kenya.
authors.forename: Robert E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Quick
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000067576:Child Health; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000517:prevention & control; D006235:Hand Disinfection; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007630:Kenya; D008297:Male; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D012874:Skin Diseases, Infectious / Q000517:prevention & control; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents