Curriculum: Principles of Infection Control for Child Care Professionals

PRINCIPLES OF INFECTION CONTROL FOR CHILD CARE PROFESSIONALS

ELEMENT 1: THE IMPORTANCE OF COMPLYING WITH RECOMMENDED PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES OF INFECTION CONTROL

Element 1 presents a general overview of basic requirements for infection control and prevention in out-of-home child care programs. This section addresses everyone's role in complying with infection control regulations and standards and the consequences of failing to do this.

Upon completion of this element, you will be able to:

Describe your role in practicing infection control in the child care setting;

List several infection prevention techniques that are required by regulations;

State why it is important to follow the principles and practices of infection control in your child care program;

Discuss what happens if you do not comply with infection control standards.

ELEMENT 2: HOW PATHOGENIC ORGANISMS ARE TRANSMITTED IN THE CHILD CARE SETTING AND STRATEGIES FOR PREVENTION AND CONTROL

You can implement measures to reduce the spread of disease. Understanding the "epidemiology" of a disease is critical for a healthy, safe environment for both the children and staff. Epidemiology is the study of how diseases spread among groups of people. This element presents concepts in the epidemiology and prevention of disease transmission in the child care setting.

Upon completion of this element, you will be able to:

Describe how pathogenic organisms spread from person to person;

Give examples of the factors which influence susceptibility to infection;

Examine strategies to reduce the spread of infectious organisms in the child care setting;

Integrate hand hygiene practices and special precautions into your daily work routine.

ELEMENT 3: ENGINEERING AND WORK PRACTICE CONTROLS WHICH REDUCE THE RISK OF EXPOSURE TO POTENTIALLY INFECTIOUS MATERIAL IN CHILD CARE SETTINGS

This element of the course presents information on environmental controls, specialized devices, and work practice techniques which significantly reduce your risk of exposure to infection in child care settings.

Upon completion of this section, you will be able to:

Define the terms engineering controls and work practice controls;

Explain how engineering controls and work practice controls reduce your risk of exposure to infection;

Identify child care procedures that involve an increased risk of exposure to infectious material;

Choose equipment and practical steps you can take to prevent exposure to infection while providing care.

ELEMENT 4: SELECTION AND USE OF PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT WHICH IS DESIGNED TO PREVENT WORKER CONTACT WITH POTENTIALLY INFECTIOUS MATERIAL AND APPLICATION OF STANDARD PRECAUTIONS IN A CHILD CARE SETTING

This section of the course provides greater detail about how you can use protective equipment (such as gloves) in the child care setting as a means of reducing exposure to infectious pathogens.

Upon completion of this element, you will be able to:

Define Personal Protective Equipment;

Choose the correct personal equipment to prevent exposure to infectious pathogens;

Explain how to properly remove contaminated disposable gloves from your hands.

Integrate Standard Precautions in daily work tasks to prevent exposure to infectious pathogens.

ELEMENT 5: CREATION AND MAINTENANCE OF A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR CHILD CARE BY ADHERING TO APPROPRIATE CLEANING AND DISINFECTION PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES

Regular and thorough cleaning of the environment can prevent the transmission of diseases in child care settings. This section of the course provides information regarding the proper disinfection of child care equipment and the maintenance of the child care environment.

Upon completion of this element, you will be able to:

State the difference between sanitizing and disinfecting;

Determine if a product is appropriate for sanitizing and disinfecting items and surfaces.

Give examples of items in a child care environment that require disinfection.

Summarize the procedure for cleaning spills of blood or body fluids.

ELEMENT 6: POLICIES AND PRACTICES TO PREVENT CHILDREN AND STAFF FROM SPREADING AND ACQUIRING INFECTIOUS DISEASES

As a worker in a child care setting, you must be knowledgeable about infectious diseases that are common to children in your care. You are expected to quickly assess circumstances where a child is capable of spreading infection and where a worker exposure to a pathogen requires medical attention.

Upon completion of this element, you will be able to:

Adapt occupational health procedures designed to protect you and those around you from dangerous pathogens;

Name five communicable diseases that are common in the child care setting;

Discuss how to manage a child who comes to the facility with potentially contagious disease;

Explain why it is important for you to report certain disease to parents and the local health authorities;

Express the importance of having a procedure for managing a staff member who is exposed to a serious infectious disease.