Download Chapter Ten: Infection Control in Child Care

Chapter Ten:
Infection Control in Child Care
Health Policies for
Infection Control
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Prevention
Protection
Promoting Good Health
Health Policies should include
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Mechanisms of disease spread
Immunizations
Sanitation
Environmental quality control
Caregiver methods and practices for
minimum risk and maximum health
protection
Mechanisms of Infectious
Disease Spread
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Via germs and bacteria—organisms that
cause diseases
Specific child care practices that
contribute (Table 10-1)
Four Methods of Transmission
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Respiratory tract
Fecal-oral
Direct contact
Blood
Respiratory Tract Transmission
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Most common
Tiny droplets from eyes, mouth, and nose
are in air
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When child sneezes, coughs, drools, or talks
Transmitted through air when another
person breathes it in
They can multiply and cause illness
Handwashing is major deterrent to spread
Fecal-Oral Transmission
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Germs from one person’s feces find their
way into another person’s mouth, are
swallowed and get into the digestive
system
Most common way is when hands are not
washed after toileting, before eating or
food preparation
Water tables are another method
Handwashing is major deterrent to spread
Direct Contact Transmission
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Occurs when one person has contact with
secretions from an infected person
Secretions can be left on doorknobs, toys,
and other objects
Also occurs with parasites, such as lice 
infestation occurs with contact
Good hygiene including handwashing and
sanitizing are deterrents to spread
Blood Contact Transmission
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Occurs when infected blood of one person
enters bloodstream of another person
Spread occurs when an infected person has
a cut, scraped skin or bloody nose, and
interacts with a person with open sores,
chapped hands, etc.
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Can also occur when mucous membranes
come into contact with infected blood
Disposable gloves should be worn when
treated in presence of blood
Child-biting becomes a serious issue
Five Fabulous Forestallers of Disease
Transmission
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Keep immunization records up to date
Use proper handwashing
Use universal sanitation procedure for
diapering
Sanitize and disinfect bathrooms and
food preparation areas
Carry out daily health check
Immunizations for Disease
Prevention
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Keep with recommended immunization
schedule for all children
Make sure all present in childcare are
immunized properly
If a child has not followed the normal
immunization schedule, make sure he or she
gets all immunizations needed
Review records periodically to assess that
everyone is in compliance
Universal Sanitary Practices
Handwashing
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Outline procedure
Diapering
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Outline procedure
Toileting
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Outline procedure
Cleaning, Sanitizing, and Disinfecting
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Define the difference
What constitutes contamination?
Environmental Quality Control
Water table guidelines
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Outline procedure
How often should they be cleaned?
Play Dough guidelines
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Outline procedure
Air quality guidelines
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What are guidelines?
Contamination guidelines
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Outline procedure
Implications for Caregivers
Education
Role modeling
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Handwashing especially important
Cultural competence
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Immunization
Provide resources for connection to
source for immunization
Supervision
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Prevent spread
Require and monitor immunizations
Report some illnesses
Exclude some children
Be prepared
Reality Check:
The Issue of Head Lice
in Child Care
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Direct contact
Historical connotation
More children in care, happens more
frequently
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No-Nits Policy
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Is it realistic?
Is the expertise for it present everywhere it
is used?
Larger number of children who build up
immunity to regular treatment
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Can be a frustrating experience if everything
appears to have been done and problem persists
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Consider policy carefully
Review as guideline for exclusion
Develop a policy that everyone can live with