Lice, Mites, Bedbugs, Fleas, Tumbu Flies: Disease-Causing Agents PreventableThrough Appropriate Laundry Practices, Sanitation Regimes, and Hygiene

摘要

During construction phases of oil and gas developmentprojects, living and working environments can becomecrowded due to the influx of large numbers of personnel froma variety of different cultures. This paper will presentpractical measures that can be implemented that will preventthe acquisition and transmission of diseases related to poorhousekeeping, laundry and sanitation.Appropriate cleaning and sanitation of living and work areascan prevent a variety of diseases related to filth and dirtyenvironments. They include:☆ Scabies (mites)☆ Pediculus humanus capitis, Pediculus Humanus andPthirus pubis (Human lice)☆ Typhus fever, trench fever (body louse)☆ Scrub typhus (mites)☆ Plague and typhus (rat fleas)☆ Myiasis (tumbu fly, bot fly)☆ Fungal diseases such as ringworm and parasitic wormsThese diseases can be transmitted through contact withinfested bedding, clothing, linen, toweling, unsanitary bathingfacilities, and contact with contaminated soil. Although theyare not disease vectors, bedbug infestations can create skinirritations leading to infections.