Effect of cleaning and disinfection of toys on infectious diseases and micro-organisms in daycare nurseries. Issue 2 (February 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ibfelt, T.; Engelund, E.H.; Schultz, A.C.; Andersen, L.P.
• Is Part Of: Journal of hospital infection. Volume 89:Issue 2(2015)
• Page Start: 109
• Page End: 115
• Publication Date: 2015-02
• Subjects: Cross infection -- Periodicals; Cross infection -- Prevention -- Periodicals; Nosocomial infections -- Periodicals; Nosocomial infections -- Prevention -- Periodicals; Cross Infection -- Periodicals; Cross Infection -- prevention & control -- Periodicals; Infection Control -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 614.44
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhin.2014.10.007
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0195-6701

Abstract

<abstract xml:lang="en" abstract-type="author" id="abs0010"> <title id="sectitle0010">Summary</title> <sec> <title id="sectitle0015">Background</title> <p id="abspara0010">The rising number of children in daycare nurseries increases opportunities for the transmission of infectious diseases. Pathogens may be transmitted directly from child to child via sneezing, coughing and touching, or indirectly via the environment. Toys are among the fomites with the highest pathogen load, but their role in disease transmission is unknown.</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="sectitle0020">Aim</title> <p id="abspara0015">To determine if washing and disinfection of toys can reduce sickness absence and microbial pathogen load in the nursery environment.</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="sectitle0025">Methods</title> <p id="abspara0020">Twelve nurseries (caring for 587 children) were randomized to intervention and control groups. The intervention consisted of washing and disinfection of toys and linen every two weeks for three months by a commercial cleaning company. The extent and causes of sickness absence among the children were recorded in both groups before and after introduction of the intervention. Ten sampling points in each nursery were examined for bacteria and respiratory viruses.</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="sectitle0030">Results</title> <p id="abspara0025">The presence of respiratory virus DNA/RNA was widespread, but very few pathogenic bacteria were found in the environment. The intervention reduced the presence of adenovirus [odds ratio (OR) 2.4, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.1–5.0], rhinovirus (OR 5.3, 95% CI 2.3–12.4) and respiratory syncytial virus (OR 4.1, 95% CI 1.5–11.2) compared with the control group, but the intervention had no effect on sickness absence or disease patterns in the nurseries.</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="sectitle0035">Conclusion</title> <p id="abspara0030">Although cleaning and disinfection of toys every two weeks can decrease the microbial load in nurseries, it does not appear to reduce sickness absence among nursery children.</p> </sec> </abstract>