Introduction: The role of cockroaches in the cause of disease or human infections is not immediately obvious. The present study aimed to review the currently available research on the potential role of cockroaches in the transmission of pathogenic bacteria and bacteria with antibiotic resistance. Methodology: A scoping review included the studies published for a period between January 2001 and December 2020. A search was performed through five databases, namely, PubMed, Sage, Springer, Sabinet, and Science Direct. A search strategy used was conducted according to the principles of Preferred Reporting Item for Systemic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). From 97 studies identified, 32 studies were included in the scoping review. Results: The findings indicate that cockroaches may be a potential vector for a diverse range of pathogenic bacterial agents. Most bacterial agents isolated are antidrug-resistant and antibiotic-resistant which is considered the greatest threat to public health in the current period. Conclusions: Cockroach infestation should be considered as a serious concern, given the possible role of cockroaches as reservoirs of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Further research is needed which can provide a comprehensive understanding of the role of cockroaches in transmitting human infections.

Hospital mortuaries are responsible for the receipt and storage of deceased people. This exposes mortuary workers to a variety of health and safety hazards, which include physical, chemical, ergonomics, biological and psychosocial hazards/stressors. The aim of this study was to assess occupational health and safety practices (OHS) among government mortuary workers in Gauteng province. a cross-sectional descriptive study design was conducted between the year 2017 and 2018. A convenient sampling technique was used to sample 11 government hospitals in Gauteng Province. A total of 46 employees participated in the study. Data was collected using structured questionnaires and observational checklists. Ethical clearance and permission to conduct the study were obtained prior to the commencement of the study. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) version 25 software. thirty-one (67%) of the respondents did not know the concept of hazard. Observations indicated that 5 out of 11 (45%) facilities were well maintained with only 2 (18%) of the facilities had the participants wearing the required PPE on duty. There was no association between working experience and having a knowledge of the existing hazards. However, there was a high correlation (P<0.05) between training and adherence to safe practices. the OHS practices were poor amongst operational employees. The study highlights the significance of developing and implementing Occupational Health and Safety programmes. We recommend that these programmes should focus on occupational health and safety education, training, supervision, medical surveillance and monitoring strategies must be developed and implemented.

Background: Limited access to improved water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities disproportionately affects low- and middle-income nations, impacting human well-being, health, education and income. Aim: This study aimed to assess access to water, improved sanitation and hygiene practices as well as to describe the occurrence of diarrhoeal illnesses in the Greater Letaba Municipality (GLM) in Limpopo, South Africa. Setting: The study was conducted in the villages of Ward 2 of the Bolobedu region under GLM. Methods: A cross-sectional study sampled 120 households through a multistage probability sampling design. Data on WASH access and diarrhoeal episodes were collected through a pre-tested structured interview questionnaire and analysed with STATA 18.0. Results: Although all households had toilets, primarily pit latrines (92%), access to improved water sources was limited, with 62% depending on communal taps. Seventy-four per cent of households had access to handwashing facilities with soap and water. Eighty-one households (68%) reported that family members consistently washed their hands with soap and water after using the toilet. Most households (67%) experienced occasional diarrhoea over the past year. Diarrhoea prevalence was significantly correlated (p ≤ 0.001) with water storage practices, availability of handwashing facilities and the frequency of post-toilet handwashing. Conclusion: Despite universal toilet access, WASH infrastructure remained inadequate. Contribution: The study highlights the association between precarious water storage, handwashing practices and diarrhoeal illness, emphasising the importance of promoting hygiene alongside infrastructure development in rural areas.

Background: Cockroach infestation raises health concerns in the communities. The study aimed to identify the type of cockroach species found in the rural parts and assess the distribution of cockroach species in the area.Subjects and Method: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in the households found in Ward 2 villages, Bolobedu and Limpopo Province in March 2021. A total of 120 households were selected using a multistage sampling strategy. Structured interviews were conducted to gather information about cockroach infestation in the households. The variables of interest in this study included the locations of cockroach sightings, pest control strategies used, and cockroach species trapped. A total of 1,186 cockroaches were trapped using a size 21×15 cm2 sticky paper sheet. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 29.Results: About 751 (64%) of cockroaches were trapped in the indoor environment and 427 (36%) in the outdoor environment. Three species of cockroaches were identified as B. germanica, B. orientalis and P. americana cockroach. Sixty-nine (66%) of the households used spray or aerosol as a control strategy to reduce the cockroach population.Conclusion: Irrespective of the villages where the cockroaches were trapped, B. germanica was the most prevalent species across the villages. Effective control strategies are required to also reduce the likelihood of pesticide resistance as well as decrease the exposure of humans to pesticide residues. Keywords: Blattella germanica, Blatta orientalis, Periplaneta americana, prevalence, distribution

Background: Environmental surfaces are key reservoirs for pathogen transmission, with the survival of bacteria on fomites influenced by factors such as temperature, humidity, and microbial interactions. This study aimed to determine microbial surface contamination and to determine the antimicrobial resistance profile of bacteria isolated from the indoor surface where the presence of cockroaches was observed in households of the Greater Letaba Municipality (GLM), South Africa. Methods: Swab samples were collected from kitchen countertops and food storage areas with visible cockroach activity. Bacteria were isolated and identified using standard microbiological methods, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) was conducted with the Vitek^® Automated 2 system. Results: Of the 120 samples collected, 82 (68%) showed bacterial growth, resulting in 190 isolates. The majority of isolates (93%) were Gram-negative, comprising Klebsiella, Pseudomonas, Enterobacter, Escherichia, Serratia, Stenotrophomonas, Pantoea, Raoultella, and Salmonella species, with 98% demonstrating multidrug resistance (MDR) to multiple antibiotics. Resistance was particularly high against gentamicin (94%), fluoroquinolones (88%) and amikacin (77%). Among Gram-positive isolates, all belonged to the Enterococcus species, with 22% being resistant to one or two of the tested antimicrobial agents and 78% exhibiting MDR. Conclusions: The study revealed a high prevalence of antibiotic resistance in both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria isolated from household surfaces. The spread of antibiotic-resistant pathogens via environmental surfaces presents a significant risk to human health, safety, and well-being.

Environmental surfaces are key reservoirs for pathogen transmission, with the survival of bacteria on fomites influenced by factors such as temperature, humidity, and microbial interactions. This study aimed to determine microbial surface contamination and to determine antimicrobial resistance profile of bacteria isolated from the indoor surface where the presence of cockroaches was observed in households of Greater Letaba Municipality (GLM), South Africa. Swab samples were collected from kitchen countertops and food storage areas with visible cockroach activity. Bacteria were isolated and identified using standard microbiological methods, and antimicrobial sus-ceptibility testing (AST) was conducted with the Vitek® 2 system. Of the 120 samples collected, 82 (86%) showed bacterial growth, resulting in 190 isolates. Most (93%) were Gram-negative species, with 98% exhibiting multidrug resistance (MDR) to various antibiotics, including ampicillin, colistin, and cephalosporins. Among the Gram-positive species, 22% exhibited resistance to one or two antimicrobial agents tested, while 78% showed MDR. The study revealed a high prevalence of antibiotic resistance in both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria isolated from household surfaces. The spread of antibiotic-resistant pathogens via environmental surfaces presents a significant risk to human health, safety, and well-being.