Is Personal Protective Equipment Worth the Hassle? Annual Risk of Cryptosporidiosis to Dairy Farmers and How Personal Protective Equipment and Handwashing Can Mitigate It

Cows are known carriers of Cryptosporidium parvum (C. parvum), a protozoa that can cause the gastrointestinal illness cryptosporidiosis in humans. Despite this potential exposure, dairy farmers tend to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) protect milk from contamination, rather than themselves zoonotic diseases, such as cryptosporidiosis. In study, cow feces were collected individual cattle on farms and analyzed for C. using qPCR. Quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) was used determine farmer with without use handwashing PPE (gloves masks). The annualized 29.08% but reduced significantly each three interventions. Among interventions, glove provided greatest reduction risk, bringing annual 4.82%. Implementing regular handwashing, gloves mask brought 1.29%. This study provides evidence reduce is worth implementing despite barriers discomfort cost.