Varvara Α Mouchtouri
Biographic Data
| ID | 7750031 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Varvara Α Mouchtouri |
| GIVEN NAMES | Varvara Α |
| FAMILY NAME | Mouchtouri |
| SIGNATURE | MOUCHTOURI V Α |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Thessaly |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-2535-3596 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 22 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 0 |
| WORKS AS AUTHOR | 22 |
| WORKS AS EDITOR | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2005 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2023 |
| H-INDEX | 0 |
Wastewater Levels of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Associated with Influenza-like Illness Rates in Children—A Case Study in Larissa, Greece (October 2022–January 2023)
The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic has led to significant progress in the field of wastewater-based surveillance (WBS) of respiratory pathogens and highlighted its potential for a wider application in public health surveillance. This study aimed to evaluate whether monitoring of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in wastewater can provide a comprehensive picture of disease transmission at the community level. The study was conducted in Larissa…
Nationwide Survey on Seasonal Influenza Vaccination among Health Care Workers during the Covid-19 Pandemic in Greece
SIV coverage (2020/2021) was relatively high, but remained far from formal recommendations. Specific occupational groups were skeptical and low-risk perception was the main reason for vaccine refusal. Targeted policies should be developed and enforced
Behavioral and Cultural Insights, a Nationwide Study Based on Repetitive Surveys of WHO Behavioral Insights Tool in Greece Regarding Covid-19 Pandemic and Vaccine Acceptance
Monitoring behavioral and cultural insights during the pandemic is a useful tool to identify factors related to COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and confront the pandemic’s vast impact. Data were collected using a questionnaire designed according to the “survey tool and guidance” provided by the World Health Organization (WHO). Surveys were conducted by a market research company for five consecutive months, with a sample of 1000 individuals recruited …
Re-Starting the Cruise Sector during the Covid-19 Pandemic in Greece
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreaks on board cruise ships early in the pandemic highlighted gaps worldwide in public health emergency contingency plans (PHECPs) for responding to unknown threats. To restart cruise operations in 2021 and respond to potential COVID-19 outbreaks, a major tourist-based Greek island port (Port A) developed a COVID-19 PHECP. We assessed plan effectiveness by reviewing epidemiological data and monitoring outcomes, …
Factors Associated with Healthcare Workers’ (HCWs) Acceptance of Covid-19 Vaccinations and Indications of a Role Model towards Population Vaccinations from a Cross-Sectional Survey in Greece, May 2021
A Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) study was conducted at the end of May 2021 engaging 1456 healthcare workers (HCWs) from 20 hospitals throughout Greece. Acceptance of vaccination against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was estimated at 77.7%, with lower vaccine acceptance identified in nurses compared to physicians. Fears related to vaccine safety, lack of information and general knowledge about vaccinations, influenza vaccine accep…
Transmission Dynamics of Sars-CoV-2 during an Outbreak in a Roma Community in Thessaly, Greece—Control Measures and Lessons Learned
A COVID-19 outbreak occurred among residents of a Roma settlement in Greece (8 April-4 June 2020). The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with an increased risk of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and to evaluate the effectiveness of control measures implemented. Data were analyzed from individuals that were tested for SARS-CoV-2 during contact tracing, population screening or hospital visit…
Rapid Test Ag 2019-nCoV (PROGNOSIS, Biotech, Larissa, Greece); Performance Evaluation in Hospital Setting with Real Time RT-PCR
The Rapid Test Ag 2019-nCoV demonstrated sufficient sensitivity, excellent specificity and could be available to be used with low overall cost. Thus, it could be used as point of care test, but also for mass screening for rapid detection of infected persons (e.g., for travelers)
Assessing training needs in infectious disease management at major ports, airports and ground-crossings in Europe
Background The implementation of core capacities as stated in the International Health Regulations (IHR) is far from complete, and, as the COVID-19 pandemic shows, the spreading of infectious diseases through points of entry (POEs) is a serious problem. To guide training and exercises, we performed a training needs assessment on infectious disease management among professionals at European POE. Methods We disseminated a digital questionnaire to r…
Educating, training, and exercising for infectious disease control with emphasis on cross-border settings
Nationwide Survey in Greece about Knowledge, Risk Perceptions, and Preventive Behaviors for Covid-19 during the General Lockdown in April 2020
Adjusting information campaigns targeting especially people below 45 years of age can help to sensitize them and realise their role to control the spread. Further targeted surveys are needed to adjust/design prevention campaigns
Prevalence of Electronic Cigarette Use and Its Determinants among 13-to-15-Year-Old Students in Greece
Electronic cigarette use has increased over the past decade. Its potential role in smoking cessation, in addiction and as a 'gateway' to tobacco smoking is subject to intense research. This cross-sectional study, carried out in 2013, aims to present the habits of students aged 13-15 in Greece with regard to e-cigarettes and investigate potential risk factors and the relationship between e-cigarettes, tobacco smoking and other nicotine products. I…
Nicotine Dependence and Loss of Autonomy among Greek Adolescent Smokers
Nicotine dependence is one of the main reasons for the continuation of smoking among adolescents. Loss of autonomy (LOA) is a measure of dependence. This study is the first to investigate LOA and its determinants among Greek adolescents. In 2013, 13-to-15-year-old middle-school students were selected by multi-stage clustered sampling. LOA was evaluated with the Hooked-on-Nicotine Checklist (HONC). Multiple univariate analysis was used to assess t…
The Importance of an Active Case Detection (ACD) Programme for Malaria among Migrants from Malaria Endemic Countries
Greece has been malaria-free since 1974. In October 2011, following an outbreak of 36 locally acquired malaria (LAM) cases in Evrotas Municipality, a Pro-Active Case Detection (PACD) program for malaria was implemented among migrants from malaria-endemic countries, to support early diagnosis and treatment of cases. We evaluated the PACD program for the years 2012-2017 using indicators such as the number of locally acquired cases, the detection ra…
Legionella Colonization of Hotel Water Systems in Touristic Places of Greece
This study aimed to assess the colonization of hotel water systems in central Greece and Corfu by Legionella , and to investigate the association between physicochemical parameters and Legionella colonization. Standardized hygiene inspection was conducted in 51 hotels, and 556 water samples were analyzed for Legionella spp . Free chlorine concentration, pH, hardness, conductivity, and trace metals were defined in cold water samples. The results o…
European Web-Based Platform for Recording International Health Regulations Ship Sanitation Certificates
The purpose of this study was to report the data analysis results from the International Health Regulations (2005) Ship Sanitation Certificates (SSCs), recorded in the European Information System (EIS). International sea trade and population movements by ships can contribute to the global spread of diseases. SSCs are issued to ensure the implementation of control measures if a public health risk exists on board. EIS designed according to the Worl…
Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices about the Prevention of Mosquito Bites and Zika Virus Disease in Pregnant Women in Greece
A survey among 573 pregnant women in Greece was conducted through self-completion of a questionnaire in July 2016. Traveling abroad the last six months was declared by 10.5% and 13.0% of pregnant women and their male sex partners, respectively, while 77.4% (441/570) had heard about Zika virus disease (ZVD). A lack of knowledge about sexual transmission of ZVD was identified in 63.3% of pregnant women, and 24.1% of responders did not know the risk…
Elevated Bathing-Associated Disease Risks Despite Certified Water Quality
Bacteriological water quality criteria have been recommended to ensure bathers' health. However, this risk-assessment approach is based mainly on routine measurements of fecal pollution indicator bacteria in seawater, and may not be adequate to protect bathers effectively. The aim of this study was to assess the risks of symptoms related to infectious diseases among bathers after exposure to seawater which was of excellent quality according to EU…
Hygiene inspections on passenger ships in Europe - an overview
This study revealed a diversity of approaches and practices in the conduct of inspections, differences in the qualifications/knowledge/experience of inspectors, the legislation applied during inspections, and the lack of communication and training among many EU countries. An integrated European inspection programme involving competent expert inspectors in each EU Member States and special training for ship hygiene delivered to crew members and in…
Surveillance study of vector species on board passenger ships, Risk factors related to infestations
Integrated pest control programs should include continuing monitoring for a variety of pest species in different ship locations; pest control measures should be more persistent in older ships. HACCP system aids in the prevention of cockroach infestations on board
Legionella species colonization of water distribution systems, pools and air conditioning systems in cruise ships and ferries
WDS of ferries can be heavily colonized by Legionella spp. and may present a risk of Legionnaires' disease for passengers and crew members. Guidelines and advising of Legionnaires' disease prevention regarding ferries are needed, in particular for operators and crew members
Management of environmental health issues for the 2004 Athens Olympic Games
Lessons learned for future events include timely implementation and installation of communication processes, and rapid and coordinated response to unsatisfactory inspection results. Routine national programs need to adopt enhanced environmental health surveillance aimed at public health decision-making, but with a different perspective
Methodological aspects of a GIS-based environmental health inspection program used in the Athens 2004 Olympic and Para Olympic Games
Our computerised program exhibited significant efficiency in facilitating the prudent use of public health resources in implementing environmental health inspections in densely populated urban areas as well as in rural counties. Furthermore, the application of simple algorithms in integrating human and other resources provided tailored and cost-effective applications to different public health agencies
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Methodological aspects of a GIS-based environmental health inspection program used in the Athens 2004 Olympic and Para Olympic Games
Our computerised program exhibited significant efficiency in facilitating the prudent use of public health resources in implementing environmental health inspections in densely populated urban areas as well as in rural counties. Furthermore, the application of simple algorithms in integrating human and other resources provided tailored and cost-effective applications to different public health agencies
Management of environmental health issues for the 2004 Athens Olympic Games
Lessons learned for future events include timely implementation and installation of communication processes, and rapid and coordinated response to unsatisfactory inspection results. Routine national programs need to adopt enhanced environmental health surveillance aimed at public health decision-making, but with a different perspective
Surveillance study of vector species on board passenger ships, Risk factors related to infestations
Integrated pest control programs should include continuing monitoring for a variety of pest species in different ship locations; pest control measures should be more persistent in older ships. HACCP system aids in the prevention of cockroach infestations on board
Legionella species colonization of water distribution systems, pools and air conditioning systems in cruise ships and ferries
WDS of ferries can be heavily colonized by Legionella spp. and may present a risk of Legionnaires' disease for passengers and crew members. Guidelines and advising of Legionnaires' disease prevention regarding ferries are needed, in particular for operators and crew members
Hygiene inspections on passenger ships in Europe - an overview
This study revealed a diversity of approaches and practices in the conduct of inspections, differences in the qualifications/knowledge/experience of inspectors, the legislation applied during inspections, and the lack of communication and training among many EU countries. An integrated European inspection programme involving competent expert inspectors in each EU Member States and special training for ship hygiene delivered to crew members and in…
Elevated Bathing-Associated Disease Risks Despite Certified Water Quality
Bacteriological water quality criteria have been recommended to ensure bathers' health. However, this risk-assessment approach is based mainly on routine measurements of fecal pollution indicator bacteria in seawater, and may not be adequate to protect bathers effectively. The aim of this study was to assess the risks of symptoms related to infectious diseases among bathers after exposure to seawater which was of excellent quality according to EU…
Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices about the Prevention of Mosquito Bites and Zika Virus Disease in Pregnant Women in Greece
A survey among 573 pregnant women in Greece was conducted through self-completion of a questionnaire in July 2016. Traveling abroad the last six months was declared by 10.5% and 13.0% of pregnant women and their male sex partners, respectively, while 77.4% (441/570) had heard about Zika virus disease (ZVD). A lack of knowledge about sexual transmission of ZVD was identified in 63.3% of pregnant women, and 24.1% of responders did not know the risk…
Legionella Colonization of Hotel Water Systems in Touristic Places of Greece
This study aimed to assess the colonization of hotel water systems in central Greece and Corfu by Legionella , and to investigate the association between physicochemical parameters and Legionella colonization. Standardized hygiene inspection was conducted in 51 hotels, and 556 water samples were analyzed for Legionella spp . Free chlorine concentration, pH, hardness, conductivity, and trace metals were defined in cold water samples. The results o…
European Web-Based Platform for Recording International Health Regulations Ship Sanitation Certificates
The purpose of this study was to report the data analysis results from the International Health Regulations (2005) Ship Sanitation Certificates (SSCs), recorded in the European Information System (EIS). International sea trade and population movements by ships can contribute to the global spread of diseases. SSCs are issued to ensure the implementation of control measures if a public health risk exists on board. EIS designed according to the Worl…
Educating, training, and exercising for infectious disease control with emphasis on cross-border settings
Nationwide Survey in Greece about Knowledge, Risk Perceptions, and Preventive Behaviors for Covid-19 during the General Lockdown in April 2020
Adjusting information campaigns targeting especially people below 45 years of age can help to sensitize them and realise their role to control the spread. Further targeted surveys are needed to adjust/design prevention campaigns
Prevalence of Electronic Cigarette Use and Its Determinants among 13-to-15-Year-Old Students in Greece
Electronic cigarette use has increased over the past decade. Its potential role in smoking cessation, in addiction and as a 'gateway' to tobacco smoking is subject to intense research. This cross-sectional study, carried out in 2013, aims to present the habits of students aged 13-15 in Greece with regard to e-cigarettes and investigate potential risk factors and the relationship between e-cigarettes, tobacco smoking and other nicotine products. I…
Nicotine Dependence and Loss of Autonomy among Greek Adolescent Smokers
Nicotine dependence is one of the main reasons for the continuation of smoking among adolescents. Loss of autonomy (LOA) is a measure of dependence. This study is the first to investigate LOA and its determinants among Greek adolescents. In 2013, 13-to-15-year-old middle-school students were selected by multi-stage clustered sampling. LOA was evaluated with the Hooked-on-Nicotine Checklist (HONC). Multiple univariate analysis was used to assess t…
The Importance of an Active Case Detection (ACD) Programme for Malaria among Migrants from Malaria Endemic Countries
Greece has been malaria-free since 1974. In October 2011, following an outbreak of 36 locally acquired malaria (LAM) cases in Evrotas Municipality, a Pro-Active Case Detection (PACD) program for malaria was implemented among migrants from malaria-endemic countries, to support early diagnosis and treatment of cases. We evaluated the PACD program for the years 2012-2017 using indicators such as the number of locally acquired cases, the detection ra…
Factors Associated with Healthcare Workers’ (HCWs) Acceptance of Covid-19 Vaccinations and Indications of a Role Model towards Population Vaccinations from a Cross-Sectional Survey in Greece, May 2021
A Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) study was conducted at the end of May 2021 engaging 1456 healthcare workers (HCWs) from 20 hospitals throughout Greece. Acceptance of vaccination against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was estimated at 77.7%, with lower vaccine acceptance identified in nurses compared to physicians. Fears related to vaccine safety, lack of information and general knowledge about vaccinations, influenza vaccine accep…
Transmission Dynamics of Sars-CoV-2 during an Outbreak in a Roma Community in Thessaly, Greece—Control Measures and Lessons Learned
A COVID-19 outbreak occurred among residents of a Roma settlement in Greece (8 April-4 June 2020). The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with an increased risk of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and to evaluate the effectiveness of control measures implemented. Data were analyzed from individuals that were tested for SARS-CoV-2 during contact tracing, population screening or hospital visit…
Rapid Test Ag 2019-nCoV (PROGNOSIS, Biotech, Larissa, Greece); Performance Evaluation in Hospital Setting with Real Time RT-PCR
The Rapid Test Ag 2019-nCoV demonstrated sufficient sensitivity, excellent specificity and could be available to be used with low overall cost. Thus, it could be used as point of care test, but also for mass screening for rapid detection of infected persons (e.g., for travelers)
Assessing training needs in infectious disease management at major ports, airports and ground-crossings in Europe
Background The implementation of core capacities as stated in the International Health Regulations (IHR) is far from complete, and, as the COVID-19 pandemic shows, the spreading of infectious diseases through points of entry (POEs) is a serious problem. To guide training and exercises, we performed a training needs assessment on infectious disease management among professionals at European POE. Methods We disseminated a digital questionnaire to r…
Behavioral and Cultural Insights, a Nationwide Study Based on Repetitive Surveys of WHO Behavioral Insights Tool in Greece Regarding Covid-19 Pandemic and Vaccine Acceptance
Monitoring behavioral and cultural insights during the pandemic is a useful tool to identify factors related to COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and confront the pandemic’s vast impact. Data were collected using a questionnaire designed according to the “survey tool and guidance” provided by the World Health Organization (WHO). Surveys were conducted by a market research company for five consecutive months, with a sample of 1000 individuals recruited …
Re-Starting the Cruise Sector during the Covid-19 Pandemic in Greece
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreaks on board cruise ships early in the pandemic highlighted gaps worldwide in public health emergency contingency plans (PHECPs) for responding to unknown threats. To restart cruise operations in 2021 and respond to potential COVID-19 outbreaks, a major tourist-based Greek island port (Port A) developed a COVID-19 PHECP. We assessed plan effectiveness by reviewing epidemiological data and monitoring outcomes, …
Wastewater Levels of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Associated with Influenza-like Illness Rates in Children—A Case Study in Larissa, Greece (October 2022–January 2023)
The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic has led to significant progress in the field of wastewater-based surveillance (WBS) of respiratory pathogens and highlighted its potential for a wider application in public health surveillance. This study aimed to evaluate whether monitoring of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in wastewater can provide a comprehensive picture of disease transmission at the community level. The study was conducted in Larissa…
Nationwide Survey on Seasonal Influenza Vaccination among Health Care Workers during the Covid-19 Pandemic in Greece
SIV coverage (2020/2021) was relatively high, but remained far from formal recommendations. Specific occupational groups were skeptical and low-risk perception was the main reason for vaccine refusal. Targeted policies should be developed and enforced
Medicine (22 works) · Environmental health (17 works) · Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19 (8 works) · Disease (8 works) · Public health (7 works) · Biology (6 works) · Geography (6 works) · Infectious disease (medical specialty (6 works) · Internal Medicine (6 works) · Population (6 works)