1. Chapter Ten: Infection Control in Child Care

2. Health Policies for Infection Control
Prevention
Protection
Promoting Good Health

3. Health Policies should include
Mechanisms of disease spread
Immunizations
Sanitation
Environmental quality control
Caregiver methods and practices for minimum risk and maximum health protection

4. Mechanisms of Infectious Disease Spread
Via germs and bacteria—organisms that cause diseases
Specific child care practices that contribute (Table 10-1)

5. Four Methods of Transmission
Respiratory tract
Fecal-oral
Direct contact
Blood

6. Respiratory Tract Transmission
Most common
Tiny droplets from eyes, mouth, and nose are in air
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

7. Fecal-Oral Transmission
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

8. Direct Contact Transmission
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

9. Blood Contact Transmission
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.

10. 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

11. Five Fabulous Forestallers of Disease Transmission
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

12. Immunizations for Disease Prevention
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

13. Universal Sanitary Practices
Handwashing
Outline procedure
Diapering
Toileting
Cleaning, Sanitizing, and Disinfecting
Define the difference
What constitutes contamination?

14. Environmental Quality Control
Water table guidelines
Outline procedure
How often should they be cleaned?
Play Dough guidelines
Air quality guidelines
What are guidelines?
Contamination guidelines

15. Implications for Caregivers
Education
Role modeling
Handwashing especially important
Cultural competence
Immunization
Provide resources for connection to source for immunization

16. Supervision Prevent spread Require and monitor immunizations
Report some illnesses
Exclude some children
Be prepared

17. Reality Check: The Issue of Head Lice in Child Care
Direct contact
Historical connotation
More children in care, happens more frequently

18. Larger number of children who build up immunity to regular treatment
No-Nits Policy
Is it realistic?
Is the expertise for it present everywhere it is used?
Larger number of children who build up immunity to regular treatment
Can be a frustrating experience if everything appears to have been done and problem persists

19. Consider policy carefully
Review as guideline for exclusion
Develop a policy that everyone can live with