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Effect of infection control measures on the frequency of upper respiratory infection in child care: a randomized,
1National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia. leslee.roberts@anu.edu.au
Insights
Improved infection control in childcare centers reduced colds by 17% in children 24 months and younger. This highlights the importance of hygiene for preventing respiratory infections in young children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Acute upper respiratory infections are prevalent in child care settings.
- Child care staff play a crucial role in preventing disease transmission.
- This study investigated if enhanced infection control could reduce respiratory illness spread.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if improved infection control procedures reduce respiratory infection transmission in childcare.
- To assess the effectiveness of staff training on infection control practices.
Main Methods:
- A cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted in Australian childcare centers.
- The intervention involved training staff on infection transmission, handwashing, and nosewiping.
- Illness was monitored through parent-reported telephone interviews.
Main Results:
- No significant reduction in colds was observed for all children.
- A significant reduction in respiratory illness occurred in children aged 24 months and younger.
- High compliance with infection control practices led to a 17% reduction in colds for younger children.
Conclusions:
- Direct transmission of colds among young children in childcare is supported.
- Infection control techniques were effective in reducing colds only in children 24 months and under.
- Targeted infection control strategies may be beneficial for younger children in group care.
Background:
Acute upper respiratory infections are common in children who attend child care, and preventing transmission of disease in this setting depends on actions by child care staff. We set out to discover whether transmission of respiratory infections in child care could be reduced by improved infection control procedures.
Methods:
We performed a cluster, randomized, controlled trial of an infection control intervention conducted in child care centers in 1 city in Australia. The intervention was training of child care staff about transmission of infection, handwashing, and aseptic nosewiping technique. Implementation of the intervention was recorded by an observer. Illness was measured by parent report in telephone interviews every 2 weeks.
Results:
There were 311 child-years of surveillance for respiratory symptoms. By multivariable analysis, there was no significant reduction in colds in intervention center children across the full age range. However, a significant reduction in respiratory illness was present in children 24 months of age and younger. When compliance with infection control practices was high, colds in these children were reduced by 17%.
Conclusions:
This trial supports the role of direct transmission of colds in young children in child care. The ability of infection control techniques to reduce episodes of colds in children in child care was limited to children 24 months of age and under.
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