Infection Control for the

Early Childhood Professional

Lynniece Nisbett Garnett MPHSeptember 13, 2011

Course: Foundations of Early Childhood Education

Objectives• Infection Control defined• Learn about how communicables are spread• Understand why hygiene is important• Explore prevention practices

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What is Infection Control

A control of infectious or communicable diseases

Communicable or infection disease is simply a disease that you can catch without difficulty

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Types of Infectious Diseases

A. Fungus : Tinea (ringworm, athletes foot)

B. Bacteria: E.Coli, Salmonella*

C. Virus: Influenza

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a

b* c

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How are Infections Spread

•People: direct or indirect body/fluid contact•Animals/insects: surface of chicken eggs, frogs, turtles•Environment- counter surface, water, towels

Communicable or infectious diseases are spread by:

Routes of Exposure

There are main ways that you can be exposed:

Inhalation: breathing air droplets from a sneeze

Ingestion: eating food with unwashed hands Skin Contact: cleaning chemicals

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Why Hygiene Is Important?

Child Care Center and School settings allow contact with several other persons

Children are still developing and are more susceptible to catching infectious diseases and spreading them

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Early childhood is known as the formative years for academics and life choices

Saves $$$ Students pass sickness to teachers; substitutes are needed. Teachers spend extra time/resources to help students catch up. Parents lose work days and may have healthcare costs

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Missed School DaysIn the US more than 164 million school days are lost due to illness (many are infectious diseases) *Source: "Vital Health and Statistics, Current Estimates from the National Health Interview Survey, 1995" (U.S.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Center for Health Statistics, 1998).

Healthy Children A study of 305 Detroit school children found that youngsters who washed their hands fourtimes a day had 24% fewer sick days due to respiratory illness and 51% fewer days due toupset stomach.Source:, www.foodsafetty.gov/~dms/fsehandw.html

Saves $$$Students tend to pass sickness to teachers; substitutes are an additional cost.teachers need to spend extra time and resources helping sick students catch up. Parents also have lost work days and potential healthcare costs

Reduce Missed School DaysIn the US more than 164 million school days are lost due to illness (note: many are infectious diseases) *Source: "Vital Health and Statistics, Current Estimates from the National Health Interview Survey, 1995" (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Center for Health Statistics, 1998).

Why Is Hygiene Important?

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Prevention Prevention Prevention

Prevention Practices

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANE5B3CQeoU&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQk66rnHHPQ

http://www.bermudalaws.bm/

Proper Hand Washing Technique

1. Wet hands with warm water

2. Use a squirt of hand washing soap

3. Lather and rub palms, backs of hands, between fingers, under finger nails, and your wrists.

4. Rinse hands.

5. Use the towel to dry hands and close the water faucets.

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The World Health Organization says we can save lives by cleaning our hands.

Cleaning and Disinfecting

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•Cleaning: removes dirt and debris•Disinfectant : works on clean surfaces/skin•Microfibers cloths/sweepers: are the best, sponges & mops are okay but are subject to microbe growth

•Microwave in water and soap for 1 minute to minimize microbe growth. Replace as needed•Disinfectant: Bleach and water 1:10 ration, labeled and locked in closet/cabinet below eye level

•Daily cleaning and disinfecting classroom materials and surfaces (or when visibly soiled)

Disposable mops, towels, cleaners are acceptable•Cost more•Increase Bermuda’s waste

Provides standards for staff• Also recommendations such as immunizations

Provides expectations for parents Day Care Centre Regulations (DCCR) 1999 *Source: http://bermudalaws.bm

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Policies and Procedures

•Require sick students and staff to stay home and seek medical attention for severe illness (DCCR Section 7, No.3)  •Facilitating hand hygiene by supplying warm water, soap and paper towels or separate hand towels (DCCR Section 8,No. 3 & 4)

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Adult supervised hand washing

Spare Clothes Ziplock bag at school

Individual Towels/Blankets sent home weekly for laundering 

  Keep Food Safe from BacteriaRefrigerator for lunches/freeze juice box etcChildren refrain from food preparation stationsBottle fed babies have multiple bottles

Rules for Excretionswiping noses, diaper changes and other excretions

 

Other Best Practices

Habits that occur at home and school have the best results

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Involve Everyone

•Annual Staff Training: (Health Department representative, Hand Washing practicum)

•Make it fun at school posters, stickers, light/musical soap pumps, step stools, charts

•Encourage parents to adopt practices at home: send reader books on hand washing , regular messaging on personal hygiene, home project

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whx5HfO3Dns

When sickness is above normal levels

A warning signal is when 10% of the children are sick with a similar illness

Some diseases (e.g. measles) one case only

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When Outbreaks Occur

Call the Health Department

Isolate

Take note of Symptoms

Signals of an outbreak

In Summary

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Infectious diseases account for sickness amongst individuals of all ages

The spread of communicables can largely be prevented

Childcare and School Facilities must takes steps to ensure children can learn in a healthy environment

Getting Parents, Staff and Children involved are critical to Success