Disinfection
The use of disinfection for the destruction of infectious agents in the general environment should not be neglected or abandoned. Under certain circumstances, disinfection may be a measure of paramount importance in disease prevention. For example, destruction of pathogenic bacteria in water supplies by the chlorination process is a very important technique in chemical disinfection.
The procedures of disinfection are varied; to a great extent they depend on the biologic characteristics of the organisms to be destroyed.
Heat is one of the best disinfectants. Boiling water will destroy practically all harmful disease agents within a few minutes. This includes most bacteria, the viruses, noxious insects, and the like. Thus, the subjecting of all contaminated water materials to boiling water for a few minutes kills all but the spore-bearing organisms. A possible exception is the virus of infectious jaundice.
Soap and water. A good scrubbing of the sick-room including the floor, furniture, and woodwork, with hot water and soap is a good system of technical disinfection.
Sunlight is an excellent disinfectant. Thus, the airing, drying, and exposure to sunlight of bedding and furniture from the sick-room is a simple but effective disinfecting technique.
Steam heat under pressure, 15 lb for 15 minutes (which is a standard autoclave technique) kills all infective agents and is the most widely used of all techniques of sterilization of linen and other articles that have been in contact with the sick person. It is simple and virtually perfect in its result.
Chemical disinfectants have been employed widely in the prevention of spread of communicable diseases. Numerous chemical substances have been advocated as efficient chemical disinfectants. All have their weak and strong points. Efficiency may depend upon a time factor, and the temperature of the disinfectant is also important.
Sanitation of swimming pools
Careful attention should be paid to the sanitary condition of public pools and bathing places.
The diseases considered to be potential hazards in swimming pools are: inflammatory infections of the upper respiratory tract and conjunctiva; injury and inflammation of the ears; skin diseases, and intestinal infections. One of the most common infections incurred in bathing establishments is ringworm of the feet, or epidermophytosis. It is not contracted from the pool water, but rather by contact with floors if they are not kept clean and well drained. Towels and swimming suits may be another source of this infection.
The chief danger of infection comes from the water, if not kept clean, or from the towels and swimming suits, if not disinfected. The source of the infection comes in almost all instances from the other swimmers in the pool. Stringent regulations should be in force to prevent use of the pool by individuals with skin diseases, running ears, ulcers, conjunctivitis, venereal diseases or signs of inflammation of the upper respiratory tract. Full showers, with soap, under inspection, should be demanded of all bathers before entering the pool.
The water should have an initial purity equal to that of a safe drinking water and should be kept clean by filtration and safe by disinfection with chlorine to destroy pathogenic and other forms of bacteria.