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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2015 Sep;143(12):2494-502.
doi: 10.1017/S095026881400329X. Epub 2015 Jan 8.

A hand hygiene intervention to reduce infections in child daycare: a randomized controlled trial

T P Zomer  1 , V Erasmus  2 , C W Looman  2 , A Tjon-A-Tsien  1 , E F Van Beeck  2 , J M De Graaf  2 , A H E Van Beeck  2 , J H Richardus  1 , H A C M Voeten  1
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

A hand hygiene intervention to reduce infections in child daycare: a randomized controlled trial

T P Zomer et al. Epidemiol Infect. 2015 Sep.

Abstract

Infections are common in children attending daycare centres (DCCs). We evaluated the effect of a hand hygiene (HH) intervention for caregivers on the incidence of gastrointestinal and respiratory infections in children. The intervention was evaluated in a two-arm cluster randomized controlled trial. Thirty-six DCCs received the intervention including HH products, training sessions, and posters/stickers. Thirty-five control DCCs continued usual practice. Incidence of episodes of diarrhoea and the common cold in children was monitored by parents during 6 months. Using multilevel Poisson regression, incidence rate ratios (IRRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were obtained. Diarrhoeal incidence was monitored in 545 children for 91 937 days. During follow-up, the incidence was 3·0 episodes per child-year in intervention DCCs vs. 3·4 in control DCCs (IRR 0·90, 95% CI 0·73-1·11). Incidence of the common cold was monitored in 541 children for 91 373 days. During follow-up, the incidence was 8·2 episodes per child-year in intervention DCCs vs. 7·4 in control DCCs (IRR 1·07, 95% CI 0·97-1·19). In this study, no evidence for an effect of the intervention was demonstrated on the incidence of episodes of diarrhoea and the common cold.

Keywords: Cold (common); gastroenteritis; hand hygiene; hygiene – professional; infectious disease control.

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Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Flow diagram of the recruitment of children in 71 child daycare centres (DCCs).
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Effect of a hand hygiene intervention on incidence of episodes of diarrhoea and the common cold in children attending daycare centres (DCCs).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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