A joint model of household time use and task assignment for elderly couples with multiple constraints.

Household time-use patterns are expected to reflect each household member's daily activity participation and duration with intra-household interactions constrained by multiple budgets. Among various activities, the allocated activity derived from undertaking a household task is studied relatively less in the literature. Who will take an allocated activity is a discrete choice problem of household task assignment, and once a household member is assigned with one household task, other members will have more time to do other activities. To better understand household time-use patterns affected by household task assignment, this paper proposed a joint household-level multiple discrete-continuous extreme value-multinomial logit (MDCEV-MNL) model with multiple constraints. The Karush-Kuhn-Tucker (KKT) method combined with the simulation-based maximum likelihood estimation method is proposed to estimate the proposed model. Based on the household activity-travel data from Beijing of China, the proposed model is customized to explore elderly couples' time-use patterns with intra-household interactions affected by household task assignment. Following the findings, policy implications are suggested to build an age-friendly society.

Cost-Benefit Analysis of Allowing Additional Time in Cleaning Hospital Contact Precautions Rooms.

Increasing cleaning time may reduce hospital-acquired transmission of Clostridioides difficile, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE). We constructed a cost-benefit model to estimate the impact of implementing an enhanced cleaning protocol, allowing hospital housekeepers an additional 15 minutes to terminally clean contact precautions rooms. The enhanced cleaning protocol saved the hospital $758 per terminally-cleaned room when accounting for only C. difficile. Scaling up to a hospital with 100 cases of C. difficile/year, and the US annual C. difficile incidence, cost savings were $75,832/year and $169.8 million/year, respectively. These results may inform infection control strategic decision-making and resource allocation.

Lineamientos para el retorno progresivo a las actividades laborales en el contexto de pandemia por COVID - 19 / Guidelines for the progressive return to work activities in the context of the COVID pandemic-19

GENERALIDADES: Objetivo y población de las recomendaciones: Brindar a los empleadores recomendaciones generales de medidas preventivas y prácticas seguras para la prevención de contagio de COVID - 19 en centros laborales. Población a la cual se aplicará las recomendaciones: Empleados que retornan a sus centros laborales en contexto de pandemia por COVID - 19. Usuarios y ámbito de las recomendaciones: Usuarios de las recomendaciones clínicas. Estos lineamientos están dirigidos a los empleadores y autoridades administrativas de Institutos y centros especializados de EsSalud en contexto de pandemia por COVID - 19. Ámbito de las recomendaciones clínicas: El presente documento es de aplicación en centros laborales. MÉTODOS: a. Búsqueda y selección de protocolos, guías de práctica clínica y documentos técnicos prévios: El 05 de junio de 2020 se realizó una búsqueda manual de guías de práctica clínica, y documentos técnicos nacionales e internacionales que brinden orientaciones para el retorno seguro a los centros laborales en contexto de pandemia por COVID - 19. Se consideró tomar como principal fuente de información a aquellos documentos que brindaron recomendaciones para la prevención de la transmisión e infección por COVID - 19 en centros laborales. b. Formulación de recomendaciones: Se revisaron los documentos previamente seleccionados que describieron ampliamente los procedimientos y consideraciones a tener antes del retorno a las actividades laborales, así como las actividades preventivas durante el desarrollo de las actividades laborales. Posteriormente se adaptaron al contexto del Seguro Social de Salud ­ EsSalud aquellos documentos cuyas recomendaciones estaban en concordancia con lo establecido en los documentos técnicos locales. DEFINICIONES OPERATIVAS: Centro laboral: Unidad productiva en el que se desarrolla la actividad laboral de una organización con la presencia de trabajadores. Desinfección: Reducción por medio de sustancia químicas y/o métodos físicos del número de microorganismos presentes en una superficie o en el ambiente, hasta un nivel que no ponga en riesgo la salud. EPP: Equipo de Protección Personal. Limpieza: Eliminación de suciedad e impurezas de las superficies utilizando agua, jabón, detergente o sustancias químicas. Puestos de trabajo con riesgo de exposición a SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19): Son aquellos puestos con diferente nivel de riesgo, que depende del tipo de actividad que realiza, por ejemplo, la necesidad de contacto a menos de 1 metro con personas que se conoce o se sospecha que estén infectadas con el virus del SARS-CoV-2, o el requerimiento de contacto repetido o prolongado con personas que se conoce o se sospecha que estén infectadas con el virus SARS-CoV-2. Empleador: Persona natural, jurídica, privada o pública, que emplea a uno o varios trabajadores. Trabajador: Persona que tiene vínculo laboral con el empleador; y a toda persona que presta servicios dentro de un centro laboral, cualquiera sea la modalidad contractual, incluyendo al personal de contratas, subcontratas, tercerización de servicios, entre otros. Trabajo en modalidad mixto: Hace referencia a la combinación de trabajo presencial con trabajo remoto, alternando las modalidades en atención a las necesidades de la entidad. Trabajo presencial: Se refiere a las tareas o funciones desempeñadas por un servidor con presencia física en el centro de labores, como consecuencia de una prestación laboral. Trabajo remoto: Es la prestación de servicios sujeta a subordinación, con la presencia física del servidor en su domicilio o lugar de aislamiento domiciliario, utilizando cualquier medio o mecanismo que le posibilite realizar sus funciones fuera del centro laboral, siempre que la naturaleza de las labores lo permita. RECOMENDACIONES EN EL CENTRO LABORAL: 1. Información y sensibilización del riesgo de transmisión e infección por COVID ­ 19. Difusión de mensajes clave: Difundir mensajes charlas informativas, paneles informativos, distribución de material informativo y de recordatorio como afiches o por medios electrónicos. Medidas de prevención de riesgo de infección por COVID ­ 19: Medidas generales de higiene. Limpieza del ambiente laboral. Equipos de protección individual. Medidas de control de riesgo de infección por COVID - 19: Lavado y desinfección de manos obligatorio. Medidas de protección personal. Vigilancia de salud del trabajador.

Does the EQ-5D usual activities dimension measure what it intends to measure? The relative importance of work, study, housework, family or leisure activities.

BACKGROUND: The EQ-5D is the most widely used generic preference-based health-related quality of life measure. It comprises five dimensions: mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression. The usual activities dimension asks respondents to evaluate the severity of problems in their usual activities, such as work, study, housework, family or leisure activities. The primary aim of this study is to investigate whether the EQ-5D (five-level) usual activities dimension captures those activities that it intends to capture. We further assess the relative importance of each of these activities for the usual activities dimension. METHODS: Data include 7933 respondents from six countries: Australia, Canada, Germany, Norway, the UK, and the US. Logistic regression and ordinary least square regression models investigate the relationship between the usual activities dimension and its main predictors (work/study, housework, family, and leisure activities). A Shapley value decomposition method was applied to measure the relative importance of each predictor. RESULTS: Work/study, housework, family, and leisure activities were all significant (p < 0.001) determinants of usual activities dimension. The respective marginal contribution (in %) of housework, leisure, work/study and family to UA dimension (as a share of goodness-of-fit) is 28.0, 26.2, 20.8 and 14.7 in the logistic regression model. This finding is consistent when linear regression is used as an alternative model. CONCLUSIONS: The usual activities dimension in EQ-5D reflects the specific activities described to respondents. Therefore, the usual activities dimension measures what it really intends to measure.

Validity and consistency of an outpatient department user satisfaction rapid scale.

BACKGROUND: User satisfaction is key to define and assess the quality of care; however, there is no patient satisfaction rapid scale in Mexico. Our objective was to determine the validity and consistency of an outpatient department user satisfaction rapid scale (ERSaPaCE). METHOD: Comparative, observational, cross-sectional, prolective study. In phase 1, a rapid scale model was developed, which was submitted to experts in medical care for assessment; the instrument was pilot-tested in 10-patient groups, using as many rounds as required until it obtained 20 approvals. In phase 2, the resulting questionnaire and the Outpatient Service User Satisfaction (SUCE) scale were applied to outpatient department users. ERSaPaCE was reapplied by telephone 10 days later. Descriptive statistics, Cronbach's a, Spearman's correlation and intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) were used. RESULTS: Two-hundred patients were recruited, out of which 53 % were aged 31-60 years; 51.5 % were women and 48.5 % men, all of them users of the outpatient services from 13 specialties. Cronbach's a for ERSaPaCE was 0.608, whereas ICC was 0.98 (p = 0.000). Convergent validity was 0.681 (p = 0.000) using Spearman's rho. CONCLUSION: ERSaPaCE was a valid and consistent instrument for the assessment of outpatient department user satisfaction.

ANTECEDENTES: La satisfacción del usuario es clave para definir y valorar la calidad de la atención, sin embargo, no existe una escala rápida de satisfacción del paciente en México. El objetivo fue determinar la validez y consistencia de la Escala Rápida de Satisfacción del Paciente de Consulta Externa (ERSaPaCE). MÉTODO: Estudio comparativo, observacional, transversal, prolectivo. En la fase 1 se elaboró un modelo de escala rápida, que se sometió a la valoración de expertos en atención médica; se realizaron pruebas piloto con 10 pacientes por ronda, tantas veces como fuera necesario hasta lograr 20 aprobaciones. En la fase 2 se aplicó el cuestionario resultante y la escala de Satisfacción del Usuario de Consultas Externas (SUCE) a usuarios de consulta externa; la ERSaPaCE se reaplicó telefónicamente siete a 10 días después. Se utilizó estadística descriptiva, a de Cronbach, Spearman y coeficiente de correlación intraclase (CCI). RESULTADOS: Se reclutaron 200 pacientes, 53 % con edad de 31 a 60 años, 51.5 % mujeres y 48.5 % hombres de la consulta externa de 13 especialidades; a de Cronbach de ERSaPaCE = 0.608, CCI = 0.98 (p = 0.000) y validez convergente = 0.681 (p = 0.000) por rho de Spearman. ­. CONCLUSIONES: ERSaPaCE fue un instrumento válido y consistente para evaluar la satisfacción del usuario de consulta externa.

Occupational hazards in medium and large scale industrial sectors in Sri Lanka: experience of a developing country.

OBJECTIVE: Occupational hazards is an area where many countries have begun to pay more emphasis as it affects the health of many particularly in developing countries. However, documented literature is scarce in this regard although occupational hazards are common in workplaces. The study was carried out with the objective of describing the physical hazards and control measures adopted in the formal medium and large-scale industrial sector in Sri Lanka. RESULTS: Of the 69 units of the 25 factories, physical hazards detected in the workplaces were; excessive noise (78.3%), poor light (58%), increased temperature (65.2%), and poor ventilation (68.1%). Over 50% of large machinery and 33% of medium-scale machinery were not adequately guarded. Nearly 41% of the machinery were difficult to operate, of them 36.2% had controls in positions which were hard to reach. Of safety measures adopted, only 34.8% had proper demarcation of areas with 28.9% displaying safety signs. Housekeeping was poor in 59.4% and less than 40% had safe storage of raw materials and end products.

A pilot study: Exploring the musculoskeletal risk exposure associated with drying laundry using the public housing pipe-socket system amongst women in Singapore.

BACKGROUND: The biomechanics of homemakers has been minimally studied. The way laundry-drying is performed in Singapore public-housing, using the pipe-socket-system (PSS), could expose the homemakers to musculoskeletal disorder risk. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to quantify the musculoskeletal risk exposure (MRE) associated with laundry-drying amongst female homemakers using the PSS in Singapore public-housing. METHODS: Using snowball sampling approach, five female homemakers familiar with the described laundry-drying method were recruited. The postures of the participants were analysed from video-recorded data and scored using the Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA). RESULTS: This pilot study revealed very strong evidence (p = 0.001) that the participants were exposed to medium risk (REBA score 4.3) when performing this housework task. CONCLUSIONS: Extreme awkward postures and repetitive motions were observed from the participants during the analysis. High REBA scores were frequently associated with the awkward postures adopted due to constraints of physical work space.

Results of a survey of procedures for cleaning and disinfecting ambulances.

BACKGROUND: In 2014, the Italian Study Group of Hospital Hygiene of the Italian Society of Hygiene, Preventive Medicine and Public Health (GISIO-SItI), in collaboration with the National Association of Medical Hospital Managers (ANMDO), conducted a survey on the availability of procedures for cleaning and disinfecting ambulances in order to assess the practices in use. METHODS: An online questionnaire was prepared through the Survey Monkey® platform and a web link access was sent to a convenience sample of ANMDO doctors working in healthcare management in public and private healthcare facilities. RESULTS: Ninety-six questionnaires were collected (26% response rate). In 73% of cases there was a procedure for cleaning and disinfecting ambulances, which had been produced at a company level (67%) and involved various professionals. In 21% of cases the procedure had been prepared in expectation of an epidemic or following an epidemic (5%). The recommendations had been presented to the staff (90%), in 28% of cases through training events with verification of the knowledge acquired. Monitoring of the implementation of the procedure is planned in the majority of cases (88%), mainly through direct observation (92%). In 67% of cases the tender specifications for ambulance services did not include a section dedicated to cleaning and disinfection and, in the absence of a procedure, this was provided by the hospital in only 51% of case. CONCLUSION: This survey represented a first step towards the development of guidelines for standardising procedures and providing indications useful for their evaluation and monitoring their implementation.

Barriers and perceptions of environmental cleaning: An environmental services perspective.

We examined the barriers and perceptions of using a 1-step daily disinfectant and ultraviolet light for environmental cleaning using an anonymous Likert scale survey. Results indicated that environmental services workers believe that cleaning is important for infection prevention and that ultraviolet light and 1-step daily disinfectant cleaner are effective sporicides.

Perceived workplace mistreatment: Case of Latina hotel housekeepers.

BACKGROUND: Latina hotel housekeepers' social class, gender, race/ethnicity, nationality, and United States immigration status render them particularly vulnerable to workplace mistreatment. OBJECTIVE: We sought to reveal the array of policy- and interpersonal-related mistreatment experienced by Latina hotel housekeepers in the southeastern United States employed at 75 local hotels which included 4-star, 3-star, 2-star, and 1-star properties. METHODS: This ethnographic study involved 27 in-depth interviews with Latina hotel housekeepers. Using semi-structured in-depth interview guides, participants were interviewed until collected data reached saturation. Data were coded to explore themes and relationships for the housekeepers' work environments, and thick descriptions of these environments were developed. RESULTS: Participants ranged in work experience from 1 to 15 years, with all but one unable to reach full-time status, and were paid between $7.25 and $8.00 per hour. Policy-related phenomena, such as low pay, lack of paid sick leave or overtime, and absence of appropriate cleaning tools or protective equipment were all perceived as forms of mistreatment by Latina hotel housekeepers. Interpersonal mistreatment in the form of supervisor favoritism, unfair work assignments, biased allocation of cleaning supplies, disrespect, and verbal abuse due to ethnicity was also perceived. CONCLUSIONS: Latina hotel housekeepers endure mistreatment that impacts their psychosocial and physical occupational health. We provide recommendations to minimize workplace mistreatment and improve well-being of Latina hotel housekeepers.

Enfermedades profesionales de los trabajadores de limpieza en los hospitales: propuesta educativa para minimizar la exposición / Doenças ocupacionais dos trabalhadores de limpeza em ambiente hospitalar: proposta educativa para minimizar a exposição / Occupational diseases of workers cleaning service in hospital environment: educational proposal to minimize exposure

Objetivos: Identificar la enfermedad profesional de los trabajadores de limpieza del hospital; describir los factores causales de las enfermedades profesionales en este grupo de trabajadores, y ofrecer actividades educativas para minimizar la exposición a las enfermedades profesionales en este grupo. Métodos: Se trata de una revisión integral de la literatura de los últimos cinco años realizada en las bases de datos Lilacs , Medline y BDEnf . Se seleccionaron ocho artículos y después de la lectura y el análisis surgieron tres categorías: (1) las enfermedades profesionales, (2) los factores causales de las enfermedades profesionales, (3) Medidas educativas para minimizar la exposición Resultados:. Los trabajadores del Servicio de limpieza en sus actividades de trabajo están expuestos a todos los riesgos laborales. Las enfermedades profesionales identificadas en estos trabajadores son diversas, pero llaman la atención: los trastornos musculoesqueléticos y dermatitis. Las medidas educativas deben centrarse en la formación / educación continua. Conclusión: Se concluye que la educación continua puede ser una alternativa para minimizar los diversos riesgos laborales a que estos trabajadores están expuestos, ya que las actividades con un enfoque en la capacitación no son muy eficaces (AU)

Objetivos: Identificar as doenças ocupacionais entre os trabalhadores de limpeza hospitalar; descrever os fatores causais das doenças ocupacionais neste grupo de trabalhadores; e propor atividades educativas para minimizar a exposição às doenças ocupacionais neste grupo. Métodos: Trata-se de uma revisão integrativa de literatura dos últimos 5 anos realizada nas bases de dados Lilacs, Bdenf e Medline. Resultados: Oito artigos foram selecionados e após leitura e análise surgiram 3 categorias: (1) Doenças ocupacionais, (2) Fatores causais das doenças ocupacionais, (3) Medidas educativas para minimizar a exposição. Resultados: O trabalhador do serviço de limpeza na sua atividade laboral está exposto a todos os riscos ocupacionais. As doenças ocupacionais identificadas desses trabalhadores são diversas, mas, destaca-se: distúrbios osteomusculares e dermatites. As medidas educativas tem o foco no treinamento/educação continuada. Conclusão: Conclui-se que, a educação permanente pode ser uma alternativa para minimizar os diversos riscos ocupacionais que estes trabalhadores estão expostos, já que as atividades com foco no treinamento não estão sendo muito eficazes (AU)

Objectives: To identify the occupational disease among hospital cleaning workers; describe the causal factors of occupational diseases in this group of workers; and offer educational activities to minimize exposure to occupational diseases in this group . Methods: This is a literature integrative review of the last five years held in databases Lilacs, BDEnf and Medline. Eight articles were selected and after reading and analyzing emerged three categories: (1) Occupational diseases, (2) causal factors of occupational diseases, (3) educational measures to minimize exposure. Results: Worker cleaning service in their work activities are exposed to all occupational risks. Occupational diseases identified these workers are diverse, but stands out: musculoskeletal disorders and dermatitis. The educational measures must focus on training / continuing education. Conclusion: We conclude that continuing education can be an alternative to minimize the various occupational hazards that these workers are exposed, since activities with a focus on training are not very effective (AU)

Understanding decision-making towards housework among women with upper limb repetitive strain injury.

BACKGROUND: Among women with upper limb repetitive strain injury (RSI), occupational therapy interventions include education to facilitate ergonomic practices in housework. From a client-centred perspective, an understanding of women's decision-making about housework is needed to design effective occupational therapy programmes. This study addresses a gap in research in this area by exploring women's views about changing housework habits. AIM: The aim was to construct a conceptual representation to explain decision-making in housework by drawing on experiences of a sample of Singapore Chinese women with upper limb RSI from one hand therapy clinic. METHODS: Based on a constructivist grounded theory methodology, data were collected through in-depth interviewing with 15 women. Interviews were audiotaped and transcribed. Data were analysed with line by line coding, focussed coding and axial coding with constant comparison throughout data collection. RESULTS: Decision-making in housework among these women involved three main themes: (i) emotional attachment to housework; (ii) cognitively informed decision; and (iii) emotionally influenced decision. Women with upper limb RSI had to make cognitive decisions for or against a change in housework to manage their condition. However, the women's cognitively informed decisions were shaped by their emotional attachment to housework. As such, they experienced strong emotional barriers to changing their housework practices even when they had cognitively accepted the necessity and possibility of making a change. CONCLUSIONS: Therapists need to be aware that counselling to address the emotional barriers experienced by women is important during ergonomic education.

La comprensión de los pictogramas de peligro de productos químicos entre trabajadores del sector de limpieza / Comprehension of hazard pictograms of chemical products among cleaning workers

Objetivo: Valorar la comprensión de los pictogramas de peligro del Sistema Globalmente Armonizado (SGA) de las Naciones Unidas referente a la clasificación, envasado y etiquetado de sustancias y mezclas químicas en trabajadores del sector de la limpieza. Métodos: Se encuestó a una muestra de 118 trabajadores sobre su percepción de los pictogramas de riesgo químico del SGA. Se valoró la comprensibilidad de los pictogramas mediante el porcentaje de aciertos y su adecuación a los estándares de comprensión mínima de la Organización International de Normalización y del Instituto Nacional Estadounidense de Estándares. Se valoró la influencia de distintas variables en la capacidad de comprensión mediante un modelo de regresión logística. Resultados: Se observaron tres grupos de pictogramas estadísticamente diferenciados según su comprensibilidad: los pictogramas "toxicidad aguda" y "inflamable" fueron descritos correctamente por 94 y 95% de los trabajadores encuestados respectivamente, los pictogramas "toxicidad sistémica", "corrosivo", "atención", "medio ambiente" y "explosivo", presentaron frecuencias de acierto del 48 al 64%, mientras que los pictogramas "comburente" y "gases a presión" fueron correctamente interpretados por un 7% de los encuestados. Los factores pronósticos para una peor comprensión fueron no estar familiarizado con los pictogramas, no haber recibido formación en prevención sobre el uso de productos químicos, ser inmigrante y tener más de 54 años de edad. Conclusiones: Solo dos pictogramas superaron los estándares mínimos de comprensión en la muestra estudiada. La formación, un instrumento que ha probado su eficacia para mejorar la interpretación correcta de los símbolos de peligro, debería fomentarse, especialmente en aquellos colectivos con mayor dificultad de comprensión

Objective: To assess the comprehension among cleaning workers of the hazard pictograms as defined by the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) of the United Nations, concerning the classification, labeling and packaging of substances and mixture. Methods: A sample of 118 workers was surveyed on their perception of the GHS hazard pictograms. Comprehensibility was measured by the percentage of correct answers and the degree to which they reflected International Organization for Standardization and American National Standards Institute standards for minimum level of comprehension. The influence of different variables to predict comprehension capacity was assessed using a logistic regression model. Results: Three groups of pictograms could be distinguished which were statistically differentiated by their comprehensibility. Pictograms reflecting "acute toxicity" and "flammable", were described correctly by 94% and 95% of the surveyed population, respectively. For pictograms reflecting "systemic toxicity", "corrosive", "warning", "environment" and "explosive" the frequency of correct answers ranged from 48% to 64%, whereas those for pictograms "oxidizing" and "compressed gas" were interpreted correctly by only 7% of respondents. Prognostic factors for poor comprehension included: not being familiar with the pictograms, not having received training on safe use of chemical products, being an immigrant and being 54 years of age or older. Conclusions: Only two pictograms exceeded minimum standards for comprehension. Training, a tool proven to be effective to improve the correct interpretation of danger symbols, should be encouraged, especially in those groups with greater comprehension difficulties

The Amsterdam model for control of tattoo parlours and businesses.

In the early 1980s, an outbreak of hepatitis B in Amsterdam stood at the start of the development of the first hygiene guidelines for tattooists in The Netherlands. Ever since, infection control in tattoo practice has continued to prove its importance as tattoo-related outbreaks of infectious diseases have continued to be reported in Europe. Furthermore, the act of tattooing includes breaking the skin barrier but is performed by professionals who are not medically trained. The Ministry of Health has now implemented uniform regulations that apply to professionals who perform tattooing and apply permanent make-up. These regulations include hygiene guidelines that were developed by the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment in cooperation with representatives of the tattooing associations. The guidelines contain a list of requirements, including for the studio interior, the cleanness of the studio, the safe use of permitted equipment and products, sterilization methods, and the information provided to the customer. A permit may be granted after an inspection by the local health service, during which the act of tattooing has to be performed. It is now estimated that over 95% of all tattoos in The Netherlands were obtained at one of the almost 900 licensed studios. Reports of complications are generally low in number. We suggest that uniform European hygiene guidelines would further contribute to the safety of tattooing.

Acute gastroenteritis and video camera surveillance: a cruise ship case report.

A 'faecal accident' was discovered in front of a passenger cabin of a cruise ship. After proper cleaning of the area the passenger was approached, but denied having any gastrointestinal symptoms. However, when confronted with surveillance camera evidence, she admitted having the accident and even bringing the towel stained with diarrhoea back to the pool towels bin. She was isolated until the next port where she was disembarked. Acute gastroenteritis (AGE) caused by Norovirus is very contagious and easily transmitted from person to person on cruise ships. The main purpose of isolation is to avoid public vomiting and faecal accidents. To quickly identify and isolate contagious passengers and crew and ensure their compliance are key elements in outbreak prevention and control, but this is difficult if ill persons deny symptoms. All passenger ships visiting US ports now have surveillance video cameras, which under certain circumstances can assist in finding potential index cases for AGE outbreaks.