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FAPS Policies: Dealing with Infectious Diseases Policy
Dealing with Infectious Diseases Policy
Education and Care Services National Law (ACT) Act 2011
Education and Care Services National Regulations 2011
Regulation 88 Infectious Diseases
National Quality Standard
Quality Area 2 Children’s Health and Safety
Standard 2.1 Each child’s health is promoted.
Element 2.1.1 Each child’s health needs are supported.
Element 2.1.3 Effective hygiene practices are promoted and implemented.
Element 2.1.4 Steps are taken to control the spread of infectious diseases and to manage
injuries and illness, in accordance with recognised guidelines.
Standard 2.3 Each child is protected.
Element 2.3.1 Children are adequately supervised at all times.
Element 2.3.2 Every reasonable precaution is taken to protect children from harm and any
hazard likely to cause injury.
Element 2.3.3 Plans to effectively manage incidents and emergencies are developed in
consultation with relevant authorities, practised and implemented.
Quality Area 6 Collaborative Partnerships with families and Communities
Standard 6.2 Families are supported in their parenting role and their values and
beliefs about child rearing are respected.
Standard 6.3 The service collaborates with other organisations and service
providers to enhance children’s learning and wellbeing.
Aim
This policy will provide clear guidelines and procedures to follow when:
• a child shows symptoms of an infectious disease
• a child has been diagnosed with an infectious disease
• managing and minimising the spread of infectious diseases, illnesses and
infestations (including head lice)
• managing and minimising infections relating to blood-borne viruses.
Rationale
Preschools and other early childhood services provide the opportunity for large groups
of children to be together at the same time, allowing potential opportunities for
infectious diseases to spread. It is virtually impossible to prevent the spread of all
infections. However we can minimise illness, particularly serious and infectious
conditions, by having health and hygiene procedures in place that can reduce
numerous infectious diseases, as well as by excluding sick persons1 from the centre.
The French-Australian Preschool supports the Immunise Australia Program and
National Immunisation Program (NIP), which is currently recommended by the
National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and supported by the
Commonwealth Government.
1
Sick persons refer to any member within the preschool community that is not of
complete satisfactory health and is present at the preschool. This includes staff,
families and children.
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FAPS Policies: Dealing with Infectious Diseases Policy
Definitions
Exclusion period: The period recommended by the Department of Health for
excluding any person from attending a children’s service to prevent the spread of
infectious diseases through interpersonal contact (Refer to Appendix I).
Infection: The invasion and multiplication of micro-organisms in bodily tissue.
Infestation: The lodgement, development and reproduction of arthropods (such as
head lice), either on the surface of the body of humans or animals, or in clothing.
Infectious disease: A disease that can be spread, for example, by air, water or
interpersonal contact. An infectious disease is designated by a health authority as a
disease that would require the infected person to be excluded from an education and
care service.
Medication: Any medicine prescribed by a medical practitioner that is administered
for the treatment of an illness or medical condition.
Recommended minimum exclusion period: The period recommended by the
Department of Health for excluding any person from attending a children’s service to
prevent the spread of infectious diseases through interpersonal contact.
Serious incident: An incident resulting in the death of a child, or an injury, trauma
or illness for which the attention of a registered medical practitioner, emergency
services or hospital is sought or should have been sought.
Implementation Strategies and Procedures
In relation to Management
Management is responsible for:
• preventing the spread of vaccine-preventable diseases through monitoring
immunisation records and complying with recommended exclusion guidelines and
timeframes for children and educators/staff.
• ensuring that where there is an occurrence of an infectious disease at the service,
reasonable steps are taken to prevent the spread of that infectious disease.
• ensuring that where there is an occurrence of an infectious disease at the service,
a parent/guardian or authorised emergency contact of each child at the service is
notified of the occurrence as soon as is practicable.
• providing access to information and resources for parents/guardians to assist in
the identification and management of infectious diseases and infestations.
• ensuring that information from the Department of Health about the recommended
minimum exclusion periods (is displayed at the service, is available to all stake
holders and is adhered to in the event of an outbreak of an infectious disease (as
designated by the Department of Health).
• providing staff, families and relevant members of the preschool community with
sufficient relevant information regarding health practises related to the preschool.
• ensuring that health records for the children are up to date.
• ensuring that staff are entitled to the required number of sick days as per their
employment awards and agreement.
• ensuring any policies or procedures relating to health or infectious diseases are
developed, reviewed, implemented and maintained on a regular basis, with
consultation to information from recognised authorities.
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FAPS Policies: Dealing with Infectious Diseases Policy
• ensuring that sick persons1 are aware of their responsibilities for maintaining a
standard of health whilst employed in the preschool.
• deciding with reasoned judgement2 whether a person is well enough to remain at
the preschool as intended that day. For example if a sick person displays the
potential to infect others or increase in severity, management are permitted to
arrange for that person to return home until they have recovered to full health.
• ensuring that a child who is not immunised against a vaccine-preventable disease
does not attend the service when an infectious disease is diagnosed, and does not
return until there are no more occurrences of that disease at the service and the
recommended minimum exclusion period has ceased (Regulation 85.2 of the Public
Health and Wellbeing Regulations 2009) notifying CPRU within 24 hours of a
serious incident, including when a child becomes ill at the service or medical
attention is sought while the child is attending the service.
• ensuring that appropriate and current information and resources are provided to
educators/staff and parents/guardians regarding the identification and
management of infectious diseases, blood-borne viruses and infestation.
• establishing good hygiene and infection control procedures, and ensuring that they
are adhered to by everyone at the service.
• providing a head lice notification letter to all patents/guardians when an infestation
of head lice has been deducted.
In relation to educators:
Educators are responsible for:
• preventing the spread of infectious disease by ensuring the use of simple hygiene
practices such as hand washing and effective cleaning procedures,
• encouraging parents/guardians to notify the service if their child has an infectious
disease or infestation.
• not accepting a child into care if they are not well enough to participate in normal
activities, or require special attention because of ill health.
• observing signs and symptoms of children who may appear unwell, and informing
the Nominated Supervisor.
• monitoring any symptoms in children that may indicate the presence of an
infectious disease and taking appropriate measures to minimise cross-infection.
A child exhibiting the following signs may need to see a medical practitioner:
fretful and listless behaviour
loss of interest in play
loss of appetite
tired and flushed appearance
vomiting
persistent cough
complain of headache or stiff neck
Frequent scratching of scalp or
skin
Very dark urine
Thick green or bloody discharge
from nose
crying readily but not easily comforted
abnormally quiet and inactive
hot to touch
feel cold and look pale
diarrhoea or loose stools
difficulty in swallowing
unusual spots or a rash
Discharge from eyes
Grey or pale faeces
Yellow skin or eyes
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FAPS Policies: Dealing with Infectious Diseases Policy
• completing an illness report and contacting parent when their child’s health
causes concern, so that they may take him/her home.
• contacting parents/guardians and asking them to collect their child/ren if they
have had two bouts of diarrhoea during the day.
• complying with the policy of the service related to hygiene and the procedures for
infection control relating to body fluids(refer to Appendix III).
• modelling appropriate behaviour demonstrating positive hygiene and infection
control practices.
• remaining home during the exclusion period if they have contacted an infectious
disease.
• maintaining confidentiality at all times
.
In relation to families
Families are responsible for:
• keeping their child/ren at home and informing the service if they are unwell or
have an infectious disease or infestation or have been in contact with a person
who has an infectious disease.
• keeping their child/ren at home when an infectious disease has been diagnosed at
the service and their child is not fully immunised against that infectious disease,
until there are no more occurrences of that disease and the exclusion period has
ceased
• providing accurate and current information regarding the immunisation status of
their child/ren when they enrol, and informing the service of any subsequent
changes to this while they are enrolled at the service.
• complying with the recommended minimum exclusion periods.
• keeping their child/ren at home for 24 hours after a high temperature, vomiting or
diarrhoea.
• keeping the child at home for 48 hours in case of an outbreak of diarrhoea.
• regularly checking their child’s hair for head lice or lice eggs, regularly inspecting
all household members, and treating any infestations as necessary
• notifying the service if head lice or lice eggs have been found in their child’s hair
and when treatment was commenced.
• providing a medical certificate when the child returns to school after an illness,
stating that the child is free from infection(in the case of an infectious disease).
Sources
http://www.acecqa.gov.au/First-aid-qualifications-and-training
https://www.coag.gov.au/sites/default/files/early_years_learning_framework.pdf
St John’s Ambulance Australia http://stjohn.org.au/first-aid-training
ACT Health http://health.act.gov.au/publications/fact-sheets/
Department of Health Immunise Australia Program and National Immunisation
Program Schedule,
http://www.immunise.health.gov.au/ and
http://www.health.gov.au/internet/immunise/publishing.nsf/content/nips-ctn
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FAPS Policies: Dealing with Infectious Diseases Policy
National Health and Medical Research Council
(NHMRC), https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/guidelines/publications/ch55
Staying healthy in childcare
www.nhmrc.gov.au/_files_nhmrc/file/guidelines/sub47.pdf
National
Work Health and Safety
http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/c2011a00137/Html/Text#_Toc309986347
Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations 2009,
http://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/Domino/Web_Notes/LDMS/PubStatbook.nsf/b0
5145073fa2a882ca256da4001bc4e7/A3B0A9845FD0980ACA25768D002AB0B5/$F
ILE/09-178sr.pdf
Related Policies
Administration of First Aid Policy
Dealing with Medical Conditions Policy
Administration of Medication Policy
Work, Health and Safety Policy
Incident, Injury, Trauma and Illness Policy.
Developed: January 2010
Approved by board: 23rd February 2010
Next date for review: January 2012 (not reviewed)
Reviewed : August 2014
Approved by Board: October 2014
Next date for review: October 2018
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FAPS Policies: Dealing with Infectious Diseases Policy
APPENDIX I
Sourced from:
ACT Department of Education and Training: Infectious Diseases – Outbreak
Procedures and Exclusion Periods Policy:
Condition
Exclusion of person with condition
Exclusion of persons in contact with
condition
Amoebiasis (entamoeba
histolytica)
Exclude until diarrhoea ceases
Not excluded
*Campylobacteriosis
Exclude until diarrhoea ceases
Not excluded
Chicken pox (varicella
and herpes zoster)
Exclude until the last blister has scabbed over.
The child should not continue to be excluded by
reason only of some remaining scabs.
Not excluded
Any child with an immune deficiency (eg with
leukaemia, or as a result of receiving
chemotherapy) should be excluded for their
own protection and seek urgent medical advice
and varicella-zoster immunoglobulin (ZIG), if
necessary.
Conjunctivitis (acute
infectious)
Exclude until discharge from eyes ceases.
Not excluded
*Cryptosporidiosis
Exclude until diarrhoea ceases
Not excluded
Diarrhoea
Exclude until diarrhoea ceases
Not excluded
*#Diphtheria
Exclude until—
(a) at least 2 negative throat swabs have been taken
(the first not less than 24 hours after cessation of
antibiotic treatment and the second not less than 48
hours later), and
Exclude family and household contacts until
approval to return has been given by the Chief
Health Officer.
(b) a certificate is provided by a medical practitioner
recommending that the exclusion should cease.
Giardiasis
Exclude until diarrhoea ceases
Not excluded
*#Haemophilius
influenza type b (Hib)
Exclude until a certificate is provided by a medical
practitioner recommending that the exclusion should
cease.
Exclude if—
(a) child is unwell, or
Not excluded
Hand, Foot and Mouth
disease
*Hepatitis A
Herpes (cold sores)
Impetigo (school sores)
Influenza and influenzalike illnesses
(b) child is drooling, and not all blisters have dried or
an exposed weeping blister is not covered with a
dressing.
Exclude for at least 7 days after the onset of jaundice
and a certificate is provided by a medical practitioner
recommending that the exclusion should cease.
Exclude young children unable to comply with good
hygiene practices while the lesion is weeping. Lesion
to be covered by a dressing in all cases, if possible.
Exclude until appropriate treatment has commenced
and sores on exposed surfaces are covered with a
watertight dressing.
Exclude until well
*Leprosy
Exclude until approval to return has been given by
the Chief Health Officer.
*#Measles
Exclude for at least 4 days after the rash appears.
Not excluded
Not excluded
Not excluded
Not excluded
Not excluded
Not excluded
(a) Immunised contacts not excluded.
(b) Exclude non-immunised contacts until 14
days after the first day of appearance of the
rash in the index case.
(b) Non-immunised contacts immunised with
measles vaccine within 72 hours after their first
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FAPS Policies: Dealing with Infectious Diseases Policy
contact with the index case are not excluded
after being immunised.
(d) Non-immunised contacts who are given
normal human immunoglobulin (NHIG) within 7
days after their first contact with the index case
are not excluded after being given NHIG.
Not excluded
Meningitis (bacterial)
Exclude until well
*Meningococcal
infection
Exclude until adequate carrier eradication therapy
has commenced.
*#Mumps
Exclude for 9 days after onset of symptoms, or until
parotid swelling goes down (whichever is sooner).
*#Poliomyelitis
Exclude for at least 14 days after onset of symptoms
and until a certificate is provided by a medical
practitioner recommending that the exclusion should
cease.
Exclude until effective treatment has commenced.
Not excluded
Exclude until diarrhoea ceases
Not excluded
*#Rubella (German
measles)
Exclude for 4 days after the appearance of the rash.
*Salmonellosis
Exclude until diarrhoea ceases
Not excluded
Female staff of child-bearing age should ensure
that their immune status against rubella is
adequate.
Not excluded
*Shigellosis
Exclude until diarrhoea ceases
Not excluded
Streptococcal infection
(including scarlet fever)
Exclude until the person has recovered or has
received antibiotic treatment for at least 24 hours.
Not excluded
*Tuberculosis
Exclude until approval to return has been given by
the Chief Health Officer.
Not excluded
*Typhoid and
paratyphoid fever
Exclude until a certificate is provided by a medical
practitioner recommending that the exclusion should
cease.
(a) Not excluded unless the Chief Health Officer
notifies the person in charge of the school.
(a) If the Chief Health Officer gives notice,
exclusion is subject to the conditions in the
notice.
*#Whooping cough
(pertussis)
Exclude for 21 days from start of cough, or for at
least 5 days after starting a course of antibiotics
recommended by the Chief Health Officer.
Worms (intestinal)
Exclude until diarrhoea ceases
Exclude non-immunised household, home
based child care and close child care contacts
under 7 years old for 14 days after the last
exposure to infection, or until 5 days after
starting a course of antibiotics recommended
by the Chief Health Officer (whichever is
sooner).
Not excluded
Ringworm, scabies,
pediculosis (lice),
trachoma
Rotavirus
(a) Not excluded if receiving rifampicin or
other antibiotic treatment recommended by
the Chief Health Officer.
(b) Otherwise, excluded until 10 days after
last contact with the index case.
Not excluded
Not excluded
http://www.det.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/585109/Infectious_Diseases.
pdf
A parent/carer of a child with a listed exclusion condition, or a child who has been in contact with a listed
exclusion condition must notify the school principal or principal carer as soon as possible.
*These conditions must be notified by medical practitioners to the Chief Health Officer.
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FAPS Policies: Dealing with Infectious Diseases Policy
APPENDIX II
Sourced from FAPS Staff Handbook
STAFF LEAVE ENTITLEMENTS FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASE
Disease
Leave with pay
Chicken Pox (varicella)
5 working days
Cold Sores
2 working days
Conjunctivitis
2 working days
German Measles (rubella)
5 working days
Head Lice
1 working day
Hepatitis A
5 working days
Hepatitis (other)
as decided by medical practitioner
Impetigo
2 working days
Measles (morbelli)
10 working days
Mumps
10 working days
Rheumatic Fever
as decided by medical practitioner
Ringworm
2 working days
Scabies
1 working day
Scarlet Fever
10 working days
Streptococcal Infection
1 working day
(Active) Tuberculosis
20 working days or as decided by
medical practitioner
Whooping Cough
10 working days
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FAPS Policies: Dealing with Infectious Diseases Policy
Appendix III
Safe handling and Cleaning of body fluids (urine, blood, vomit)or
materials in contact with body fluids
Workers work on the presumption that all blood and body fluids are
infectious, and follow the "rules" whenever in contact with them.
The ‘rules’ are:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Disposable gloves must be worn when cleaning hazardous spills.
Care must be taken by staff member who is cleaning the hazardous spill
not to expose their own skin wounds, sores or mucous membranes
(eyes, mouth or nose) to the body fluids.
A body fluids cleaning kit for the staffs’ protection will be available for
cleaning hazardous spills is situated in the laundry cupboard. This
contains disposable gloves, aprons, masks and protective eye wear.
Surfaces such as carpets must thoroughly sprinkled with Bio-Waste®
infectious waste absorbent. When the spill has been absorbed; it must
be swept up with dust pan and brush, placed in a double plastic bag and
dispose in a bin that children have no access to. The area must be then
thoroughly washed with hot soapy water. Cloths used for cleaning
hazardous spills must be thrown out after use. The dust pan and brush
must be washed thoroughly with hot soapy water.
To avoid cross-contamination ensure that the spill must be isolated by
keeping children away from the area until the spill has been cleaned and
thoroughly dried (making a temporary barrier using chairs or other
resources).
Hands must be washed after cleaning hazardous spills.
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