Infection in childcare

Last updated
Infections are less likely to spread when children and adults wash hands often, especially before eating United States children eating at day care.jpg
Infections are less likely to spread when children and adults wash hands often, especially before eating

Infection in childcare is the spread of infection during childcare, typically because of contact among children in daycare or school. This happens when groups of children meet in a childcare environment, and there any individual with an infectious disease may spread it to the entire group. Commonly spread diseases include influenza-like illness and enteric illnesses, such as diarrhea among babies using diapers. It is uncertain how these diseases spread, but hand washing reduces some risk of transmission and increasing hygiene in other ways also reduces risk of infection.

Contents

Due to social pressure, parents of sick children in childcare may be willing to give unnecessary medical care to their children when advised to do so by childcare workers and even if it is against the advice of health care providers. In particular, children in childcare are more likely to be given antibiotics than children outside of childcare.

Mechanism of transmission

A sick person who does not cover his nose when he sneezes may spread infection, especially in a childcare environment. Sneeze.JPG
A sick person who does not cover his nose when he sneezes may spread infection, especially in a childcare environment.

The presumption behind the idea of a "childcare infection" is that a place in which many children come into contact with each other can be a focus of infection, which is a place where infections are able to spread from person to person. [ citation needed ]

Flu and respiratory tract infection are lessened in groups which use frequent hand washing, but the actual pathway through which the diseases spread is unclear except for the fact that hand washing disrupts disease transmission. [1]

Diseases related to the human gastrointestinal tract, like diarrhea or other enteric illness, often spread through the fecal-oral route and are especially common in places where children have not completed toilet training. [2] Diapers, confined spaces for changing diapers, and the unhygienic habits of children contribute to the spread of these infections. [2] Bacterial infections most often spread through person to person contact, while eating food, or through the presence of animals. [2] It is difficult to determine how viral agents causing enteric illness spread. [2] Reviews of Helicobacter pylori have been unable to determine how it spreads during childcare, but have confirmed that it does easily spread in childcare environments, and that it is difficult to make recommendations for preventing it. [3]

Epidemiology

Childcare infection is a public health concern because it harms the health of individual children and the infections which children get during childcare also may be spread within their homes and communities away from the childcare. [4] Generally, children who attend childcare are 2-3 times more likely to acquire an infection than children who do not receive such services. [4]

Prevention

Infection happens because of individuals bringing infections into a childcare environment and spreading infectious agents within that environment, which children then contact and become at risk for infection. Increased risk of infection is related to practices of those in the childcare environment, and infection risk can be reduced by taking precautions. [4] Practices which reduce the likelihood of spreading infection include encouraging hand washing in all present, providing facial tissue to cover sneezes, doing food preparation in a place separate from other activity, cleaning and using a disinfectant on surfaces people touch, and among groups using diapers, having good practices to change and dispose of diapers while cleaning children and the changing area. [4]

There are some alternetives to prevent diseases through physical contact with objects. Most of the objects in child center like toys, chairs, tables, and everything that can be touch by anyone can be what causes infections or a disease. There is some disinfectant that has studies report of their effectiveness against "Salmonella Typhimurium" and "Staphylococcus aureus" on a chair and a toy. They can be used to prevent these infections. First, we have Clorox Anywhere (CA) that has achieved the greatest results of reducing "Staphylococcus aureus" and "Salmonella Typhimurium". Clorox Green Works (GCW) is the second to show reduction but not more than Clorox Anywhere. The one that has shown less reduction but still shows effectiveness is CITRUS Farm Edition (CFE). [5]

Treatment

Health advocacy messages such as this one encourage using antibiotics only after discussion with a health care provider. Choosing Wisely antibiotics poster small English.pdf
Health advocacy messages such as this one encourage using antibiotics only after discussion with a health care provider.

Childcare infections can be treated just as infections acquired outside of childcare, however, there are pressures on sick children to begin taking unnecessary health care even against the advice of health care providers. Antibiotics are commonly given to children for whom the drugs would serve no benefit, due to the child not having a medical condition which antibiotics can treat. [6] This is especially common in children with respiratory infections which antibiotics cannot treat, and in younger children, and in children who have privately purchased health insurance covering their medical expenses. [6]

Children who attend childcare are twice as likely to take an antibiotic when sick as children who do not attend childcare. [7] This is because child care providers wish to host children who are not sick, and consequently pressure parents to seek antibiotics or other treatment even when it is against the advice of health care providers. [7] In turn, parents feel compelled to seek this treatment for their children to please the care providers even if it is against the advice of their health care provider. [7] Overuse of antibiotics in child care has led to an increase of antibiotic resistance in bacteria in childcare settings. [8] While the increase of antibiotic resistance is worrisome, the current implications of this are uncertain, although it is expected that this will become more of a public health problem in the future. [8]

Society and culture

Families in which parents take time off work to care for their sick children instead of sending them to childcare services may be harmed by missing the loss of work hours and pay. [9] Some research has suggested that when parents have paid leave from work to tend to sick children then they are less likely to give their children antibiotics unless they are sure that it is recommended by a health care provider. [10]

Childcare providers often refuse to care for sick children, and ask that parents make alternate arrangements. [11] For various reasons including an inability of childcare providers to know which illnesses are infectious, childcare providers often refuse to care even for children who have acute illnesses which are unlikely to spread to others. [11]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Infection</span> Invasion of an organisms body by pathogenic agents

An infection is the invasion of tissues by pathogens, their multiplication, and the reaction of host tissues to the infectious agent and the toxins they produce. An infectious disease, also known as a transmissible disease or communicable disease, is an illness resulting from an infection.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pneumonia</span> Inflammation of the alveoli of the lungs

Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung primarily affecting the small air sacs known as alveoli. Symptoms typically include some combination of productive or dry cough, chest pain, fever, and difficulty breathing. The severity of the condition is variable.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Streptococcal pharyngitis</span> Medical condition

Streptococcal pharyngitis, also known as streptococcal sore throat, is pharyngitis caused by Streptococcus pyogenes, a gram-positive, group A streptococcus. Common symptoms include fever, sore throat, red tonsils, and enlarged lymph nodes in the front of the neck. A headache and nausea or vomiting may also occur. Some develop a sandpaper-like rash which is known as scarlet fever. Symptoms typically begin one to three days after exposure and last seven to ten days.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Common cold</span> Common viral infection of the upper respiratory tract

The common cold or the cold is a viral infectious disease of the upper respiratory tract that primarily affects the respiratory mucosa of the nose, throat, sinuses, and larynx. Signs and symptoms may appear fewer than two days after exposure to the virus. These may include coughing, sore throat, runny nose, sneezing, headache, and fever. People usually recover in seven to ten days, but some symptoms may last up to three weeks. Occasionally, those with other health problems may develop pneumonia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hygiene</span> Practices performed to preserve health

Hygiene is a set of practices performed to preserve health. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), "Hygiene refers to conditions and practices that help to maintain health and prevent the spread of diseases." Personal hygiene refers to maintaining the body's cleanliness. Hygiene activities can be grouped into the following: home and everyday hygiene, personal hygiene, medical hygiene, sleep hygiene, and food hygiene. Home and every day hygiene includes hand washing, respiratory hygiene, food hygiene at home, hygiene in the kitchen, hygiene in the bathroom, laundry hygiene, and medical hygiene at home.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Otitis media</span> Inflammation of the middle ear

Otitis media is a group of inflammatory diseases of the middle ear. One of the two main types is acute otitis media (AOM), an infection of rapid onset that usually presents with ear pain. In young children this may result in pulling at the ear, increased crying, and poor sleep. Decreased eating and a fever may also be present. The other main type is otitis media with effusion (OME), typically not associated with symptoms, although occasionally a feeling of fullness is described; it is defined as the presence of non-infectious fluid in the middle ear which may persist for weeks or months often after an episode of acute otitis media. Chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) is middle ear inflammation that results in a perforated tympanic membrane with discharge from the ear for more than six weeks. It may be a complication of acute otitis media. Pain is rarely present. All three types of otitis media may be associated with hearing loss. If children with hearing loss due to OME do not learn sign language, it may affect their ability to learn.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hand washing</span> Act of cleaning ones hands

Hand washing, also known as hand hygiene, is the act of cleaning one's hands with soap or handwash and water to remove viruses/bacteria/microorganisms, dirt, grease, or other harmful and unwanted substances stuck to the hands. Drying of the washed hands is part of the process as wet and moist hands are more easily recontaminated. If soap and water are unavailable, hand sanitizer that is at least 60% (v/v) alcohol in water can be used as long as hands are not visibly excessively dirty or greasy. Hand hygiene is central to preventing the spread of infectious diseases in home and everyday life settings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bronchiolitis</span> Blockage of the small airways in the lungs due to a viral infection

Bronchiolitis is inflammation of the small airways in the lungs. Acute bronchiolitis is due to a viral infection usually affecting children younger than two years of age. Symptoms may include fever, cough, runny nose, wheezing, and breathing problems. More severe cases may be associated with nasal flaring, grunting, or the skin between the ribs pulling in with breathing. If the child has not been able to feed properly, signs of dehydration may be present.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Respiratory syncytial virus</span> Species of a virus

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), also called human respiratory syncytial virus (hRSV) and human orthopneumovirus, is a common, contagious virus that causes infections of the respiratory tract. It is a negative-sense, single-stranded RNA virus. Its name is derived from the large cells known as syncytia that form when infected cells fuse.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meningococcal disease</span> Medical condition

Meningococcal disease describes infections caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis. It has a high mortality rate if untreated but is vaccine-preventable. While best known as a cause of meningitis, it can also result in sepsis, which is an even more damaging and dangerous condition. Meningitis and meningococcemia are major causes of illness, death, and disability in both developed and under-developed countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Isolation (health care)</span> Measure taken to prevent contagious diseases from being spread

In health care facilities, isolation represents one of several measures that can be taken to implement in infection control: the prevention of communicable diseases from being transmitted from a patient to other patients, health care workers, and visitors, or from outsiders to a particular patient. Various forms of isolation exist, in some of which contact procedures are modified, and others in which the patient is kept away from all other people. In a system devised, and periodically revised, by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), various levels of patient isolation comprise application of one or more formally described "precaution".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antibiotic misuse</span>

Antibiotic misuse, sometimes called antibiotic abuse or antibiotic overuse, refers to the misuse or overuse of antibiotics, with potentially serious effects on health. It is a contributing factor to the development of antibiotic resistance, including the creation of multidrug-resistant bacteria, informally called "super bugs": relatively harmless bacteria can develop resistance to multiple antibiotics and cause life-threatening infections.

Influenza prevention involves taking steps that one can use to decrease their chances of contracting flu viruses, such as the Pandemic H1N1/09 virus, responsible for the 2009 flu pandemic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Congenital cytomegalovirus infection</span> Medical condition

Congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) is cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in a newborn baby. Most have no symptoms. Some affected babies are small. Other signs and symptoms include a rash, jaundice, hepatomegaly, retinitis, and seizures. It may lead to loss of hearing or vision, developmental disability, or a small head.

Perianal cellulitis, also known as perianitis or perianal streptococcal dermatitis, is a bacterial infection affecting the lower layers of the skin (cellulitis) around the anus. It presents as bright redness in the skin and can be accompanied by pain, difficulty defecating, itching, and bleeding. This disease is considered a complicated skin and soft tissue infection (cSSTI) because of the involvement of the deeper soft tissues.

Childhood chronic illness refers to conditions in pediatric patients that are usually prolonged in duration, do not resolve on their own, and are associated with impairment or disability. The duration required for an illness to be defined as chronic is generally greater than 12 months, but this can vary, and some organizations define it by limitation of function rather than a length of time. Regardless of the exact length of duration, these types of conditions are different than acute, or short-lived, illnesses which resolve or can be cured. There are many definitions for what counts as a chronic condition. However, children with chronic illnesses will typically experience at least one of the following: limitation of functions relative to their age, disfigurement, dependency on medical technologies or medications, increased medical attention, and a need for modified educational arrangements.

A focus of infection is a place containing whatever epidemiological factors are needed for transmission of an infection. Any focus of infection will have a source of infection, and other common traits of such a place include a human community, a vector population, and environmental characteristics adequate for spreading infection.

An alternative vaccination schedule is a vaccination schedule differing from the schedule endorsed by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). These schedules may be either written or ad hoc, and have not been tested for their safety or efficacy. Proponents of such schedules aim to reduce the risk of adverse effects they believe to be caused by vaccine components, such as "immune system overload" that is argued to be caused by exposure to multiple antigens. Parents who adopt these schedules tend to do so because they are concerned about the potential risks of vaccination, rather than because they are unaware of the significance of vaccination's benefits. Delayed vaccination schedules have been shown to lead to an increase in breakthrough infections without any benefit in lower side effect profiles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Workplace hazard controls for COVID-19</span> Prevention measures for COVID-19

Hazard controls for COVID-19 in workplaces are the application of occupational safety and health methodologies for hazard controls to the prevention of COVID-19. Vaccination is the most effective way to protect against severe illness or death from COVID-19. Multiple layers of controls are recommended, including measures such as remote work and flextime, increased ventilation, personal protective equipment (PPE) and face coverings, social distancing, and enhanced cleaning programs.

In epidemiology, a non-pharmaceutical intervention (NPI) is any method used to reduce the spread of an epidemic disease without requiring pharmaceutical drug treatments. Examples of non-pharmaceutical interventions that reduce the spread of infectious diseases include wearing a face mask and staying away from sick people.

References

  1. ↑ Warren-Gash, C; Fragaszy, E; Hayward, AC (Sep 2013). "Hand hygiene to reduce community transmission of influenza and acute respiratory tract infection: a systematic review". Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses . 7 (5): 738–49. doi:10.1111/irv.12015. PMC   5781206 . PMID   23043518.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Lee, MB; Greig, JD (Oct 2008). "A review of enteric outbreaks in child care centers: effective infection control recommendations". Journal of Environmental Health. 71 (3): 24–32, 46. PMID   18990930.
  3. ↑ Bastos, J; Carreira, H; La Vecchia, C; Lunet, N (Jul 2013). "Childcare attendance and Helicobacter pylori infection: systematic review and meta-analysis". European Journal of Cancer Prevention. 22 (4): 311–9. doi:10.1097/cej.0b013e32835b69aa. PMID   23242007. S2CID   1016411.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Nesti, MM; Goldbaum, M (Jul–Aug 2007). "Infectious diseases and daycare and preschool education". Jornal de Pediatria. 83 (4): 299–312. doi: 10.2223/jped.1649 . PMID   17632670.
  5. ↑ Jimenez, Maribel; Martinez, Celida I.; Chaidez, Cristobal (2010-12-01). "Disinfection alternatives for contact surfaces and toys at child care centers". International Journal of Environmental Health Research. 20 (6): 387–394. doi:10.1080/09603123.2010.491851. ISSN   0960-3123. PMID   21161800. S2CID   25657257.
  6. 1 2 Hersh, AL; Shapiro, DJ; Pavia, AT; Shah, SS (Dec 2011). "Antibiotic prescribing in ambulatory pediatrics in the United States". Pediatrics. 128 (6): 1053–61. doi:10.1542/peds.2011-1337. PMID   22065263. S2CID   22545764.
  7. 1 2 3 Rooshenas, L; Wood, F; Brookes-Howell, L; Evans, MR; Butler, CC (May 2014). "The influence of children's day care on antibiotic seeking: a mixed methods study". The British Journal of General Practice. 64 (622): e302–12. doi:10.3399/bjgp14x679741. PMC   4001146 . PMID   24771845.
  8. 1 2 Holmes, SJ; Morrow, AL; Pickering, LK (1996). "Child-care practices: effects of social change on the epidemiology of infectious diseases and antibiotic resistance". Epidemiologic Reviews. 18 (1): 10–28. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.epirev.a017913 . PMID   8877328.
  9. ↑ McCutcheon, H; Fitzgerald, M (May 2001). "The public health problem of acute respiratory illness in childcare". Journal of Clinical Nursing. 10 (3): 305–10. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2702.2001.00486.x . PMID   11820539.
  10. ↑ Thrane, N; Olesen, C; Md, JT; Søndergaard, C; Schønheyder, HC; Sørensen, HT (May 2001). "Influence of day care attendance on the use of systemic antibiotics in 0- to 2-year-old children". Pediatrics. 107 (5): E76. doi: 10.1542/peds.107.5.e76 . PMID   11331726.
  11. 1 2 Hashikawa, A. N.; Juhn, Y. J.; Nimmer, M.; Copeland, K.; Shun-Hwa, L.; Simpson, P.; Stevens, M. W.; Brousseau, D. C. (19 April 2010). "Unnecessary Child Care Exclusions in a State That Endorses National Exclusion Guidelines". Pediatrics. 125 (5): 1003–1009. doi:10.1542/peds.2009-2283. PMC   3047469 . PMID   20403929.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.