3.2.2.4: Training and Monitoring for Hand Hygiene

The program should ensure that staff members and children who are developmentally able to learn personal hygiene are instructed in, and monitored on performing hand hygiene as specified in Standard 3.2.2.2.

RATIONALE

Education of the staff and children regarding hand hygiene and other cleaning procedures can reduce the occurrence of illness in the group of children in care (1,2).

Staff training and monitoring of hand hygiene has been shown to reduce transmission of organisms that cause disease (3-6). Periodic training and monitoring is needed to result in sustainable changes in practice (7).

COMMENTS

Training programs may utilize some type of verbal cue such as singing the alphabet song, twinkle, twinkle little star or the birthday song during handwashing.

TYPE OF FACILITY

Center, Early Head Start, Head Start, Large Family Child Care Home, Small Family Child Care Home

RELATED STANDARDS

3.2.2.1 Situations that Require Hand Hygiene
3.2.2.2 Handwashing Procedure

REFERENCES

1. Hawks, D., J. Ascheim, G. S. Giebink, S. Graville, A. J. Solnit. 1994. Science, prevention, and practice VII: Improving child day care, a concurrent summary of the American Public Health Association/American Academy of Pediatrics national health and safety guidelines for child-care programs; featured standards and implementation. Pediatrics 95:1110-12.
2. Roberts, L., E. Mapp, W. Smith, L. Jorm, M. Pate, R. M. Douglas, C. McGilchrist. 2000. Effect of infection control measures on the frequency of upper respiratory infection in child care: A randomized, controlled trial. Pediatrics 105:738-42.
3. Black, R. E., A. C. Dykes, K. E. Anderson. 1981. Handwashing to prevent diarrhea in day care centers. Am J Epidemiol 113:445-51.
4. Roberts, L., L. Jorm, M. Patel, W. Smith, R. M. Douglas, C. McGilchrist. 2000. Effect of infection control measures on the frequency of diarrheal episodes in child care: A randomized, controlled trial. Pediatrics 105:743-46.
5. Carabin, H., T. W. Gyorkos, J. C. Soto, L. Joseph, P. Payment, J. P. Collet. 1999. Effectiveness of a training program in reducing infections in toddlers attending daycare centers. Epidemiol 10:219-27.
6. Bartlett, A. V., B. A. Jarvis, V. Ross, T. M. Katz, M. A. Dalia, S. J. Englender, L. J. Anderson. 1988. Diarrheal illness among infants and toddlers in day care centers: Effects of active surveillance and staff training without subsequent monitoring. Am J Epidemiol 127:808-17.
7. Alkon, A., J. Bernzweig, K. To, M. Wolff, J. F. Mackie. 2009. Child care health consultation improves health and safety policies and practices. Academic Pediatrics 9:366-70.