Reduction in acute gastroenteritis among military trainees: secondary effects of a hygiene-based cluster-randomized trial for skin and soft tissue infection prevention

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2015 Mar;36(3):358-60. doi: 10.1017/ice.2014.65.

Abstract

Military personnel in congregate settings are at increased risk for acute gastroenteritis., Personal hygiene (eg, frequent hand washing, hand sanitizers, etc.) remains a central strategy. A skin and soft tissue infection (SSTI) prevention trial was conducted among military trainees. Trainees were randomized to 1 of 3 groups with incrementally increasing education- and hygiene-based measures. The principal components were promotion of hand washing in addition to a once-weekly application of a chlorhexidine-based body wash. Herein, we report the trial’s impact on acute gastroenteritis.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01105767.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Anti-Infective Agents, Local / therapeutic use*
  • Chlorhexidine / therapeutic use*
  • Gastroenteritis / prevention & control*
  • Georgia
  • Hand Disinfection / methods*
  • Health Promotion / methods
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Military Personnel*
  • Skin Diseases, Bacterial / prevention & control*
  • Soft Tissue Infections / prevention & control*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Anti-Infective Agents, Local
  • Chlorhexidine

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT01105767