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Pathogen transmission in child care settings studied by using a cauliflower virus DNA as a surrogate marker
1Center for Pediatric Research, Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk 23510-1001, USA. jjiang@chkd.com
Insights
Cauliflower mosaic virus DNA markers effectively tracked pathogen spread in childcare settings. Hand touching significantly contributed to transmission, while hand washing and surface wiping reduced it.
Area of Science:
- Environmental microbiology
- Molecular biology
- Public health
Background:
- Pathogen transmission in childcare settings poses a significant public health risk.
- Understanding transmission dynamics is crucial for implementing effective control measures.
- Novel methods are needed to accurately trace the spread of pathogens in these environments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and utilize stable DNA markers from cauliflower mosaic virus to study pathogen transmission dynamics.
- To investigate the spread of markers within a childcare home (CCH) and a childcare center (CCC), including associated children's homes.
- To identify key factors influencing marker transmission and evaluate the efficacy of hygiene interventions.
Main Methods:
- Design of two stable DNA regions from cauliflower mosaic virus as environmental markers.
- Introduction of DNA markers into CCH and CCC environments via sensitized objects.
- Detection of DNA markers using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to trace environmental spread.
- Monitoring marker stability for up to 1 month in the environment.
Main Results:
- DNA markers demonstrated stability in the environment for at least 1 month.
- Markers spread rapidly within both CCH and CCC environments post-introduction.
- Transmission was faster in the toddler room compared to the infant room within the CCC.
- Hand touching of contaminated surfaces was identified as the primary driver of marker spread.
- Hand washing and surface wiping interventions significantly reduced marker spread.
- Minimal room-to-room spread was observed within the CCC, but markers were detected in children's homes.
Conclusions:
- Cauliflower mosaic virus DNA markers are effective tools for studying pathogen transmission in childcare settings.
- Environmental factors and human behavior, particularly hand contact, play critical roles in pathogen dissemination.
- Standard hygiene practices like hand washing and surface disinfection are vital for mitigating pathogen spread in childcare environments.
- Contaminated childcare environments can lead to pathogen introduction into children's homes.
Abstract:
Two regions of cauliflower mosaic virus DNA were designed as markers to study pathogen transmission in a child care home (CCH) and child care center (CCC) and in homes of CCC children. The DNA markers were stable for 1 month in the environment. The DNA markers were introduced into the environment through sensitized objects, and spread in the environment was traced by detection of the markers with polymerase chain reaction. The DNA markers spread rapidly in both the CCH and CCC after introduction and spread more rapidly in the toddler room than in the infant room of the CCC. Hand touching of contaminated areas was the major factor leading to spread of the markers. Hand washing and surface wiping decreased spread of the markers. The markers spread minimally from room to room in the CCC but were detected in the children's homes after introduction of markers in the CCC.