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The germ reducing efficacy of tap water, soap, pHisoHex, pHisoDerm and 70% ethanol was compared using the model of hands artificially contaminated with E. coli. Each of ten persons washed 1, 2 or 4 minutes. Reduction factors were calculated from pre- and post-values and were compared for each individual. After one minute the logarithms of the geometric means of the reduction factors amounted to 2,99, 3,23, 3,28, 3,61, 4,25 in the above used sequence (Table 2). After one minute the reductions came off more slowly and the slopes were linear and parallel as far as the mechanical germ reducing procedures are concerned (Fig. 2). In contrast, ethanol caused a steeper slope even after one minute wash. The strong reduction achieved by mechanical procedures (even with water for one minute 3 powers of ten were observed) demonstrates the high hygienic importance of hand washings for removal of the transient flora. Detergents like pHisoDerm produce further significantly higher reductions and seem to be more suitable than aggressive disinfectants for application in fields where bactericidal action is not imperative. The proposals for procedures aiming at disinfecting of the transient flora issued by the Austrian Society for Hygiene, Microbiology and Preventive Medicine require a reduction factor of at least 10(5) after two minutes hand wash. The results of this investigation show that this is practicable with ethanol and necessary, otherwise the bactericidal action would not be different from a mechanical removal of the transient flora.

The climate crisis and its consequences represent the greatest challenge facing human health and health care system in the 21st century. It threatens to undermine the last decades of health gains. Rising temperatures, fires, floods and droughts can directly and indirectly cause human pathologies, that are physical and mental. Extreme weather events lead to loss of life, basic life resources and cause severe mental burden. More intense and frequent heat waves due to global warming impact human health and increase mortality, especially for those most vulnerable. The heat-related health risk depends on individual state of health as well as environmental and socioeconomic characteristics of residential areas. Increasing exposure to air pollutants, due to wildfires and anthropogenic emissions, raises respiratory and cardiovascular mortality. Climate warming changes ecosystems and enhances biological invasions that can better adapt to warm environments. Pathogen profiles are changing, transmission and spread of vector-borne diseases as Malaria or Dengue are increasing. Further, rising temperatures and air pollution increase the production and allergenicity of pollen, associated with higher prevalence of allergic diseases. Protective environmental factors, as biodiversity or diverse microbiome, should be given greater consideration in future research.Health sector has the central responsibility as the fifth-largest greenhouse gas emitter to transform in a climate-neutral and sustainable way, e. g. by efficient use of resources. Further education and training in this area should be intensified and included in curricula for medical staff. Furthermore, medical professionals must educate patients about the burden of climate change, climate resilience, and the benefits of CO2 reduction - for human but also for planetary health.

Vibrio is a genus of bacteria present in surface and coastal waters as well as in marine organisms worldwide. In many countries, pathogenic Vibrio species are a main cause of bacterial diarrhea, which may result from comsumption of contaminated seafood and fish products or from drinking contaminated water. Vibrio infections may also gain in importance in our regions due to global warming and the increase in the world trade of seafood. The research network "VibrioNet" studies pathogenic Vibrios in the marine environment and in seafood consumed by humans as a potential, new emerging zoonotic agent. An assessment of the risk arising from pathogenic non-cholera-vibrios in central Europe is the target of a multidisciplinary research effort. The research network will be strengthened by cooperations with international partners from countries in which Vibrio infections play a major role (Bangladesh, Chile, India, Thailand, and Vietnam).