* . *
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact
Friday, September 12, 2025
Earth-News
  • Home
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    Entertainment Community Fund Launches Program Supporting Entrepreneurs – Playbill

    Entertainment Community Fund Launches Exciting New Program to Support Entrepreneurs

    Behind the turntables: DJ Johnny Kage’s story of perseverance – yahoo.com

    Behind the Turntables: DJ Johnny Kage’s Inspiring Journey of Perseverance

    The other WWE star James Gunn wanted for Peacemaker instead of John Cena – yahoo.com

    The WWE Star James Gunn Originally Wanted for Peacemaker Instead of John Cena

    Quinta Brunson, John Stamos Join Entertainment and Technology Summit – Variety

    Quinta Brunson and John Stamos to Headline Thrilling Entertainment and Technology Summit

    ‘Breaking Bad’ star arrested for incident with neighbor. Here’s the latest – PennLive.com

    Breaking Bad’ Star Arrested Following Neighbor Dispute: Latest Updates

    Palmetto Sports & Entertainment to air Columbia Fireflies playoff games – WIS News 10

    Catch Every Thrilling Moment: Palmetto Sports & Entertainment to Broadcast Columbia Fireflies Playoff Games!

  • General
  • Health
  • News

    Cracking the Code: Why China’s Economic Challenges Aren’t Shaking Markets, Unlike America’s” – Bloomberg

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Trending Tags

    • Trump Inauguration
    • United Stated
    • White House
    • Market Stories
    • Election Results
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Technology
    Aston Martin to integrate Pirelli’s cyber tyre technology in future models – Just Auto

    Aston Martin to Revolutionize Future Models with Pirelli’s Cutting-Edge Cyber Tyre Technology

    Figure Technology’s stock sizzles after IPO, as investors stay hungry for crypto deals – MarketWatch

    Figure Technology’s Stock Skyrockets After IPO Amid Surging Crypto Investor Excitement

    AI is the ‘most transformational technology’ in our lifetime, AMD CEO argues – Fox Business

    AMD CEO Declares AI the Most Transformative Technology of Our Era

    PAR Technology (PAR) Unveils AI-Powered Assistant Enhancing Restaurant Operations and Customer Engagement – simplywall.st

    PAR Technology Unveils AI-Powered Assistant to Revolutionize Restaurant Operations and Boost Customer Engagement

    Lincoln Laboratory technologies win seven R&D 100 Awards for 2025 – MIT News

    Lincoln Laboratory Technologies Secure Seven Prestigious R&D 100 Awards for 2025

    ASE Technology (ASX) Hits Record High on AI Fuel – uk.finance.yahoo.com

    ASE Technology Rockets to New Heights Driven by Game-Changing AI Breakthroughs

    Trending Tags

    • Nintendo Switch
    • CES 2017
    • Playstation 4 Pro
    • Mark Zuckerberg
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    Entertainment Community Fund Launches Program Supporting Entrepreneurs – Playbill

    Entertainment Community Fund Launches Exciting New Program to Support Entrepreneurs

    Behind the turntables: DJ Johnny Kage’s story of perseverance – yahoo.com

    Behind the Turntables: DJ Johnny Kage’s Inspiring Journey of Perseverance

    The other WWE star James Gunn wanted for Peacemaker instead of John Cena – yahoo.com

    The WWE Star James Gunn Originally Wanted for Peacemaker Instead of John Cena

    Quinta Brunson, John Stamos Join Entertainment and Technology Summit – Variety

    Quinta Brunson and John Stamos to Headline Thrilling Entertainment and Technology Summit

    ‘Breaking Bad’ star arrested for incident with neighbor. Here’s the latest – PennLive.com

    Breaking Bad’ Star Arrested Following Neighbor Dispute: Latest Updates

    Palmetto Sports & Entertainment to air Columbia Fireflies playoff games – WIS News 10

    Catch Every Thrilling Moment: Palmetto Sports & Entertainment to Broadcast Columbia Fireflies Playoff Games!

  • General
  • Health
  • News

    Cracking the Code: Why China’s Economic Challenges Aren’t Shaking Markets, Unlike America’s” – Bloomberg

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Trending Tags

    • Trump Inauguration
    • United Stated
    • White House
    • Market Stories
    • Election Results
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Technology
    Aston Martin to integrate Pirelli’s cyber tyre technology in future models – Just Auto

    Aston Martin to Revolutionize Future Models with Pirelli’s Cutting-Edge Cyber Tyre Technology

    Figure Technology’s stock sizzles after IPO, as investors stay hungry for crypto deals – MarketWatch

    Figure Technology’s Stock Skyrockets After IPO Amid Surging Crypto Investor Excitement

    AI is the ‘most transformational technology’ in our lifetime, AMD CEO argues – Fox Business

    AMD CEO Declares AI the Most Transformative Technology of Our Era

    PAR Technology (PAR) Unveils AI-Powered Assistant Enhancing Restaurant Operations and Customer Engagement – simplywall.st

    PAR Technology Unveils AI-Powered Assistant to Revolutionize Restaurant Operations and Boost Customer Engagement

    Lincoln Laboratory technologies win seven R&D 100 Awards for 2025 – MIT News

    Lincoln Laboratory Technologies Secure Seven Prestigious R&D 100 Awards for 2025

    ASE Technology (ASX) Hits Record High on AI Fuel – uk.finance.yahoo.com

    ASE Technology Rockets to New Heights Driven by Game-Changing AI Breakthroughs

    Trending Tags

    • Nintendo Switch
    • CES 2017
    • Playstation 4 Pro
    • Mark Zuckerberg
No Result
View All Result
Earth-News
No Result
View All Result
Home Health

Nose-Picking Health Workers Had Higher COVID Risk

August 3, 2023
in Health
Nose-Picking Health Workers Had Higher COVID Risk
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Surveyed hospital workers who admitted to picking their nose were three to four times more likely to wind up having a COVID infection, and the prevalent habit may be an underrecognized source of spread, Dutch researchers suggested.

Early on in the pandemic, COVID incidence was significantly greater among respondents who reported picking their nose at least incidentally, and with some degree of regularity, compared with those who refrained at all costs (17.3% vs 5.9%; adjusted OR 3.80, 95% CI 1.05-24.52), reported Jonne Sikkens, MD, MSc, of Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity in the Netherlands, and colleagues.

Writing in PLoS ONE, they suggested that “perhaps the role of nose picking is underestimated” when it comes to SARS-CoV-2 transmission among hospital staff.

“The viral load in the nasal mucosa is high in the days after contracting a SARS-CoV-2 infection, even before the onset of symptoms and in patients that remain asymptomatic,” they noted. “Nose picking HCW [healthcare workers] who are infected with SARS-CoV-2 could contaminate the work environment, potentially leading to further transmission.”

Workers at Amsterdam University Medical Centers were retrospectively surveyed in December 2021 about their behaviors during the first and second waves of the pandemic, with 85% of the Dutch cohort owning up to picking their nose either daily, weekly, or monthly. Responses were matched against prospectively collected SARS-CoV-2 test results at the hospitals from March through October 2020.

A noted limitation of the study was that “the depth of penetration and eating of boogers” among the nose pickers was not evaluated, said Sikkens and colleagues.

Nose pickers tended to be younger (mean age 44 vs 53 years for non-pickers) and were more likely to be men (90% vs 83%), with doctors being the worst offenders.

While COVID prevention guidelines suggest personal protective equipment (PPE) for workers dealing with patients and offer strict hand hygiene protocols, nose-picking doesn’t make the cut. But it should, said Sikkens and co-authors.

“Nose picking deserves more consideration as a potential health hazard, and explicit recommendations against nose picking should be included in the same SARS-CoV-2 infection prevention guidelines,” they wrote.

The findings, said Sikkens and colleagues, highlight how critical the nasal cavity is when it comes to SARS-CoV-2 transmission, as “nose picking may facilitate viral entry by directly introducing virus particles present on the hands to the nose, thus facilitating infection.”

Researchers also examined other behavioral habits like nail biting, wearing glasses, and having a beard, with adjustments for all made for COVID exposure, though none of these were associated with an increased risk of infection.

Concern around glasses and beards involves the potential for less-than-ideal fitting PPE, though glasses, if anything, seemed potentially protective in the study (OR 0.49, 95% CI 0.23-1.06); prior studies have shown conflicting results as to whether eyewear confers protection against infection.

Given the study timeframe and the rash of COVID preprints unleashed during the pandemic, why did researchers only now release these findings? In part because the cohort evaluated yielded large amounts of data and priorities needed to be made, Sikkens told MedPage Today.

“We did prioritize the analyses based on research subjects that were thought to be most urgent, leading to our earlier publications for instance on vaccine response and infections in healthcare workers,” he said by email. “The current data would have been useful to have earlier in the pandemic, but others were thought to be even more important.”

For their study, the team sent out surveys to 404 healthcare workers at the Amsterdam University Medical Centers in December 2021, with 52% of the workers responding.

Of the 219 respondents, three-fourths were women. Most respondents were nurses (45%) or support staff (35%), with doctors (15% specialists, 5% residents) rounding out the rest of the cohort. Residents and specialists (100% and 91%, respectively) were the most frequent nose pickers, followed by support staff (86%) and nurses (80%).

Frequency of nose picking did not appear to be linked with any difference in COVID infection risk, with positive cases in 27% of those who reported monthly picking, 35% among weekly pickers, and 32% of daily pickers. No participants reported picking their nose every hour, thankfully.

One-third of the cohort reported nail biting, two-thirds wore glasses, and 31% of the men had beards.

A study strength was that SARS-CoV-2 positivity was determined by prospective longitudinal serological sampling, though this was all done pre-Omicron and pre-vaccine availability and therefore might not be generalizable to the current circulating variants or to the vaccine era. Another limitation involved the survey timing — as it was conducted retrospectively, it may have introduced recall bias.

author['full_name']

Ian Ingram is Managing Editor at MedPage Today and helps cover oncology for the site.

Disclosures

The study was funded by the Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development ZonMw and the Corona Research Fund Amsterdam UMC.

Sikkens and co-authors declared having no competing interests.

Primary Source

PLoS ONE

Source Reference: Lavell AHA, et al “Why not to pick your nose: Association between nose picking and SARS-CoV-2 incidence, a cohort study in hospital health care workers” PLoS ONE 2023; DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0288352.

>>> Read full article>>>
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source : MedPageToday – https://www.medpagetoday.com/infectiousdisease/covid19/105754

Tags: healthNose-Picking
Previous Post

No Weight Benefits With Phone-Based CBT a Year After Bariatric Surgery

Next Post

Outdoor air pollution may increase non-lung cancer risk in older adults

Entertainment Community Fund Launches Program Supporting Entrepreneurs – Playbill

Entertainment Community Fund Launches Exciting New Program to Support Entrepreneurs

September 12, 2025
New global collaboration uses UC Davis experts and AI to spot the next pandemic – University of California – Davis Health

Global Collaboration Harnesses UC Davis Experts and AI to Detect the Next Pandemic Early

September 12, 2025
Why pesticides could threaten a MAGA-MAHA political divorce – CNN

Why pesticides could threaten a MAGA-MAHA political divorce – CNN

September 12, 2025
Direct mortality due to humans threatens migratory shorebirds – Nature

Human Impact Pushes Migratory Shorebirds Toward Grave Threats

September 12, 2025
Scientists celebrate a decade of listening to black holes – NPR

Scientists celebrate a decade of listening to black holes – NPR

September 12, 2025
Lori Falce: Finding a solution to political violence is science fiction – TribLIVE.com

Lori Falce Explores Why Ending Political Violence Feels Like Science Fiction

September 12, 2025
Pharmacologic Advances and Lifestyle Foundations in MASH Care, With Allysa Saggese, NP – HCPLive

Revolutionary Drug Developments and Vital Lifestyle Strategies in MASH Care with Allysa Saggese, NP

September 12, 2025
Aston Martin to integrate Pirelli’s cyber tyre technology in future models – Just Auto

Aston Martin to Revolutionize Future Models with Pirelli’s Cutting-Edge Cyber Tyre Technology

September 12, 2025
Six Olympians on U.S. Men’s Roster for 2025 World Championship – USA Volleyball

Six Olympians Lead U.S. Men’s Roster for 2025 World Championship

September 12, 2025
Behind the turntables: DJ Johnny Kage’s story of perseverance – yahoo.com

Behind the Turntables: DJ Johnny Kage’s Inspiring Journey of Perseverance

September 12, 2025

Categories

Archives

September 2025
MTWTFSS
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
2930 
« Aug    
Earth-News.info

The Earth News is an independent English-language daily published Website from all around the World News

Browse by Category

  • Business (20,132)
  • Ecology (818)
  • Economy (836)
  • Entertainment (21,715)
  • General (16,999)
  • Health (9,880)
  • Lifestyle (851)
  • News (22,149)
  • People (840)
  • Politics (845)
  • Science (16,046)
  • Sports (21,336)
  • Technology (15,818)
  • World (819)

Recent News

Entertainment Community Fund Launches Program Supporting Entrepreneurs – Playbill

Entertainment Community Fund Launches Exciting New Program to Support Entrepreneurs

September 12, 2025
New global collaboration uses UC Davis experts and AI to spot the next pandemic – University of California – Davis Health

Global Collaboration Harnesses UC Davis Experts and AI to Detect the Next Pandemic Early

September 12, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact

© 2023 earth-news.info

No Result
View All Result

© 2023 earth-news.info

No Result
View All Result

© 2023 earth-news.info

Go to mobile version