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Diaper type and fecal contamination in child day care
Insights
Reusable cloth diapers and disposable paper diapers showed no significant difference in fecal contamination in child day care centers. Effective hygiene practices, not diaper type, are key to reducing microbial contamination.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Microbiology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Child day care centers present unique challenges for maintaining hygiene.
- Fecal contamination is a significant concern in environments with young children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare fecal contamination levels associated with reusable cloth diapers versus disposable paper diapers in child day care settings.
- To identify key areas and transmission routes of microbial contamination.
Main Methods:
- Bacterial samples were cultured from four licensed child day care centers.
- 1722 samples were analyzed to quantify fecal organisms.
- Diaper type (cloth vs. paper) was assessed under comparable handling conditions.
Main Results:
- Fecal organism isolation rates varied across centers, from 12% to 46%.
- No significant difference in fecal contamination frequency or intensity was found between cloth and paper diapers.
- Contamination was measured in play/sleep areas, diaper change areas, and on hands.
Conclusions:
- Diaper type does not significantly impact fecal contamination in child day care when handling is standardized.
- Future research should focus on hand hygiene and environmental surface disinfection (e.g., sink faucets).
- Effective microbial control strategies in day cares require a multi-faceted approach beyond diaper selection.
Abstract:
In this study, modern all-in-one, front closure, reusable cloth diapers were compared with single-use, disposable paper diapers for their effect on fecal contamination in the child day care environment. Four licensed child day care centers were surveyed from which 1722 bacterial samples were cultured. The frequency of isolation of fecal organisms ranged from a low of 12% of the total bacterial isolates at a center using cloth diapers to a high of 46% and 45%, respectively, obtained at a center using first paper and then cloth diapers. Diaper type, cloth versus paper, when the method of application and the handling are made comparable, showed no significant difference in the frequency or the intensity of fecal contamination in child day care centers, as measured in the play/sleep area, the diaper change area, or on the hands of the care givers and children. Future studies to control microbial contamination in child day care centers should focus on effective ways of reducing contamination of sink faucets, hands of the caregivers, and hands of the children.