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Detection of pathogenic micro-organisms on children's hands and toys during play
T Martínez-Bastidas1, N Castro-del Campo, K D Mena
1Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, A.C. Unidad Culiacán, Sinaloa, Mexico.
Insights
Children's play activities spread pathogens like E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus on hands and toys. Implementing control strategies is crucial to prevent infectious disease transmission in children.
Area of Science:
- Environmental microbiology
- Pediatric infectious diseases
- Public health
Background:
- Children's leisure activities, especially outdoors, can lead to microbial contamination of hands and toys.
- Understanding pathogen transfer during play is essential for public health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of children's leisure activities on the presence of pathogens on their hands and toys.
- To assess microbiological hazards in children's play environments.
Main Methods:
- A pilot study involving 12 children was conducted to assess playground contamination.
- An intervention study involved washing children's hands and toys before play.
- Microbial quantification used membrane filtration, selective media, flotation techniques, and RT-PCR for various pathogens.
Main Results:
- Faecal contamination was found on children's hands and toys after playing in public areas.
- Pathogenic bacteria (e.g., Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, E. coli), Hepatitis A virus, and Giardia lamblia were detected.
- Significant concentrations of bacteria were found on hands and toys even after washing.
Conclusions:
- Children's play activities directly influence the presence and transfer of microbes on hands and toys.
- Pathogen transfer occurs bidirectionally between children's hands and toys.
- Control strategies are necessary to mitigate the risk of infectious diseases in children.
Aims:
This study aimed to determine if the children's leisure activities impact the presence of pathogens on their hands and toys.
Methods & Results:
To assess the microbiological hazard in playground areas, a pilot study that included 12 children was conducted. We then conducted an intervention study; children's hands and toys were washed before playing. Faecal coliforms, pathogenic bacteria and Giardia lamblia were quantified by membrane filtration, selective media and flotation techniques, respectively; rotavirus, hepatitis A and rhinovirus by RT-PCR. Pilot study results revealed faecal contamination on children's hands and toys after playing on sidewalks and in public parks. Pathogenic bacteria, hepatitis A and G. lamblia on children's hands were also found. In the intervention study, Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae were found on children's hands at concentrations up to 2·5 × 10(4) and 1 × 10(4) CFU hands(-1), respectively. E. coli and Kl. pneumoniae were detected on toys (2·4 × 10(3) and 2·7 × 10(4) CFU toy(-1), respectively). Salmonella spp, Serratia spp and G. lamblia cysts were also present on toys.
Conclusion:
Children's play activities influence microbial presence on hands and toys; the transfer seems to occur in both ways.
Significance And Impact Of The Study:
Control strategy needs to be implemented to protect children from infectious diseases.
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