Dear Colleagues,

On behalf of IJERPH, we invite all scientists to publish in the Special Edition titled "Technical and Organizational Solutions for Limiting the Spread of Pathogens in the Human Environment". Contributions can include descriptions of original achievements regarding developed technical solutions, as well as test results confirming their effectiveness and usefulness.

The COVID-19 pandemic, which affects the entire globe, has revealed the extent to which a sub-microscopic pathogen can change our everyday life, constituting a serious factor that threatens the lives of the elderly, as well as of healthy people. The restrictions on basic forms of social activity, introduced by the governments of countries struggling with the effects of the pandemic, which are an obvious reaction to the emerging threats of infection with SARS-Cov-2, have led to several consequences. There have been huge losses, of an economic nature as well as the negative phenomena in the psycho-sociological sphere. The loss of, or threat of losing, jobs, along with restrictions on freedom of movement and on the possibility of maintaining direct contact with loved ones, have disturbed the individual’s sense of security, which is a prerequisite for the undisturbed, sustainable functioning of societies, as well as of general public health.

The efforts of scientists in the field of medicine and biology to develop effective pharmaceutical methods of treatment and for the prevention of infections, are accompanied by activities undertaken by representatives of other fields of science in the areas of prevention, not directly related to medicine. Their activities are focused on the development of various methods and measures to prevent or reduce the spread of pathogens on surfaces, in the air, in liquids, through food, on everyday objects, sanitary facilities, etc.

The scope of the Special Issue is the technical and organizational solutions developed related to the following, to be broadly understood as:

• Implementation of washing, disinfection, and sterilization processes of medical equipment, including flexible endoscopes, devices for general use, and equipment for facilities in public spaces.
• Methods of disinfecting rooms within hospitals; health care buildings; ambulances; doctors' and dentists’ offices; centres for the elderly and chronically ill; and rooms of other public buildings such as schools, kindergartens, administrative offices, banks, and shops.
• Gaseous and air decontamination technologies for Clostridioides difficile ( diff) infection (CDI) in the healthcare environment.
• Testing the activity of chemical disinfectants.
• Modification of the design and operation guidelines for HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) devices.
• Development of the principles governing the assembly of people, as well as the use of public transport, shops, restaurants, etc., including rules for their enforcement.
• Methods of hazard detection through limiting large concentrations of people, rapid non-contact temperature checks, blood oxygen level measurements, analyses of the sound of breathing, etc.
• Computer or telephone applications allowing for an initial diagnosis of the health condition, and an indication of any need to consult a doctor.

Therefore, it seems very useful for scientists to present the results of their research and developed solutions. The availability of this information can be a valuable hint and inspiration for many researchers and designers. State-of-the-art reviews in these areas will also provide valuable input for this Special Issue of IJERPH.

Dr. Wojciech Kierat
Guest Editor

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