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The Spread of Infection

Most infections are caused by harmful organisms such as bacteria or viruses (these are both often referred to as ‘germs’). These organisms can easily spread from person to person through the process of cross-infection and this can happen in a variety of different ways.

  • Ways in which infection spread
  • Learning aim

Understand how to prevent the spread of infection. Explain why it is important to control the spread of infection in the early years setting. Analyze how procedures in early year’s settings prevent the spread of infection.

 

Preventing the spread of infection

Young children are vulnerable to infection, as their immune systems are still developing. Policies and procedures to prevent the spread of infection are extremely important for protecting children from illness and promoting good health. In settings where there are groups of children together, the infection can easily spread from one child to another. Early years practitioners have a responsibility to follow strict procedures in order to prevent infection from spreading. One of the main ways to prevent the spread of infection in early years settings is through the practice of frequent hand washing, by children, staff, other adults and visitors to the setting. The Health Protection Agency (HPA) recommended hand washing procedure; practice using this method until it becomes your routine way of washing your hands.

 

Health and safety equipment and resources

Another important way to prevent the spread of infection in an early years setting is by using appropriate equipment and resources. For example, you should use disposable gloves and aprons, appropriate waste bins for hazardous waste (including dirty nappies), disposable tissues and paper towels. The spread of infection can be minimized if all staff follow guidelines, use equipment correctly and encourage children to do the same.

  • AIDS: Auto-Immune deficiency syndrome: a serious (often fatal) disease of the immune system
  • Bacteria: Single-celled organisms, some of which are harmful to the human body
  • Cross-infection: when the infection is spread from one person to another.
  • Hepatitis: A/B: A disease characterized by inflammation of the liver and caused by a virus or toxin
  • HIV: Human Immunodeficiency Virus, which is responsible for causing AIDS
  • Immune system: The body’s system of defence against disease or foreign substances Organisms: living beings that have the ability to act or function independently Standard Infection Control Precautions: practical measures that help minimize the risk of infection from blood and body fluids
  • Viruses: Tiny, contagious organisms that often cause disease: Method of spread Example Prevention Airborne or droplet (breathing in) Infection is spread through the air by coughing or sneezing (e.g. the common cold). Cover the mouth when coughing or sneezing. Use tissues and dispose of them appropriately. Have good ventilation in the setting. Direct contact (skin to skin) Infection is spread by touching (e.g. cuddling or shaking hands). Frequent, thorough hand washing procedures, particularly after using the toilet, before handling food and after touching animals
  • Ingestion (swallowing): Infection can be spread by eating contaminated food (food poisoning), by touching food with dirty hands (e.g. not washing hands after using the toilet) or by putting dirty hands in the mouth (e.g. after playing outside).

 

Strict Food hygiene procedures

Thorough hand washing, particularly after using the toilet and outdoor play

Regular cleaning and disinfection of equipment, toys and play materials Body fluids (blood, urine, vomit)

Some infections can spread from one person to another by direct exchange of body fluids (e.g. hepatitis, HIV and AIDS). Always use the Standard Infection Control Precautions when dealing with blood and other body fluids. Wear disposable aprons and gloves.

Dispose of nappies, blood-soaked dressings and other used first aid materials appropriately. Cover your own cuts with waterproof, adhesive dressings.

  • Vectors (animals): Some infections can be spread by insects and animals (e.g. flies or ticks). Keep food covered. Try to keep flies out of the setting. Encourage children to wash hands frequently, particularly after handling animals or playing.

Professional practice in controlling the spread of infection

There are many ways for practitioners to control the spread of infection in early years settings.

  • Policies and procedures: Make sure you are familiar with the policies relating to infection control, e.g. food hygiene and dealing with illness.
  • Personal hygiene: Wash your hands frequently. Keep your fingernails short and tie back long hair. Cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing. Cover any cuts with brightly colour waterproof, adhesive dressings.
  • Changing nappies and toileting routines
  • Wear aprons and disposable gloves. Wash your hands before and afterwards. Dispose of used nappies in an approved waste unit.
  • Hand washing: Always wash your hands thoroughly, following the procedure recommended by the Health Protection Agency.
  • Handling food: Follow strict hygiene procedures when preparing, storing or cooking food, as outlined by the Food Standards Agency.
  • Disposal of waste: Follow guidance for waste disposal, including nappies, chemicals, and other hazardous waste, glass and other sharp materials, as outlined by the Department of Health.
  • Dealing with body fluids: Follow the Department of Health Standard Infection Control Precautions for dealing with blood and all other body fluids (including urine and vomit). Wear disposable gloves, wash hands thoroughly and dispose of waste materials (including used first aid dressings) in approved clinical waste units.
  • Cleaning procedures: Always clean up spillages immediately. Use an approved disinfection solution to clean surfaces, equipment, and play materials. Machine wash soft toys and dressing up clothes regularly. Keep the outdoor environment clear of animal faeces, broken glass and other debris.

 

Record keeping and reporting procedures

Accurate record keeping can help practitioners take appropriate precautions to control the spread of infection. Records must be easily accessible, although confidential information about children must be held securely (according to the requirements of the General Data Protection Regulations 2016. Information held about each child in the setting should include:

  • Full name, date of birth, address and emergency contact details for parents or carers
  • Immunization records and medical history (including details of medical conditions such as diabetes or asthma)
  • Any allergies (e.g. specific foods, bee stings or other allergies that could result in a medical emergency).
  • Parents or carers of infected children should always be notified immediately. The parents of the other children in the setting should be informed by phone, letter, email or other communication methods. It is important for parents to understand that they should not bring ill children into the setting. The setting should advise parents to contact their GP or other health professionals if they are concerned about their child’s health. Most infectious diseases have a specific incubation period and children should be isolated throughout the infectious period of the illness.

 

Notifying relevant authorities

Most cases of infectious diseases in early year’s settings must be reported to Ofsted). The outbreak of some infectious diseases (such as meningitis) must be reported to the Health Protection Agency (HPA). In some cases, this may lead to the closure of the setting for a period of time. It is very important to report and record all information accurately and to provide clear information and reassurance for parents.

 

Professional practice in controlling the spread of infection

There are many ways for practitioners to control the spread of infection in early year’s settings. Measures used to control the spread of infection.

  • Policies and procedures: Make sure you are familiar with the policies relating to infection control, e.g. food hygiene and dealing with illness. Personal hygiene Wash your hands frequently. Keep your fingernails short and tie back long hair. Cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing. Cover any cuts with waterproof, adhesive dressings. Changing nappies and toilet routines Wear aprons and disposable gloves. Wash your hands before and afterwards. Dispose of used nappies in an approved waste unit.
  • Hand washing: Always wash your hands thoroughly, following the procedure recommended by the Health Protection Agency.
  • Handling food: Follow strict hygiene procedures when preparing, storing or cooking food, as outlined by the Food Standards Agency. Disposal of waste Follow guidance for waste disposal, including nappies, chemicals, and other hazardous waste, glass and other sharp materials, as outlined by the
  • Department of Health: Dealing with body fluids Follow the Department of Health Standard Infection Control Precautions for dealing with blood and all other body fluids (including urine and vomit). Wear disposable gloves, wash hands thoroughly and dispose of waste materials (including used first aid dressings) in approved clinical waste units.
  • Cleaning procedures: Always clean up spillages immediately. Use an approved disinfection solution to clean surfaces, equipment, and play materials. Machine wash soft toys and dressing up clothes regularly. Keep the outdoor environment clear of animal faeces, broken glass and other debris.
  • Design: Design a poster that could be displayed in your staff room, providing guidelines for staff in preventing the spread of infection.
  • Research: Go to the Health Protection Agency Website at www.hpa.org.uk and investigate the methods of spread, incubation and infectious periods for the following diseases: chicken pox, meningitis, salmonella.
  • Research: Investigate where children’s records are kept in your placement or work setting. How is confidential information kept securely? Compare the procedures in your placement with those of others in your group and make a note of the similarities and differences.
  • Research: Investigate how different kinds of waste are disposed of in your placement or work setting (e.g. dirty nappies, first aid materials, and broken glass). Make sure you know how to do this correctly.

 

Your assessment criteria: Learning aim

Understand how to prevent the spread of infection

Explain why it is important to control the spread of infection in the early years setting.

Analyze how procedures in early year’s settings prevent the spread of infection. Make sure you clean and disinfect surfaces, equipment, and play materials on a regular basis

  • Research: Investigate the procedures in your placement or work setting for notifying parents about infectious diseases in the setting. Design a fact sheet that could be used to inform new parents about the procedures in your placement.
  • General Data Protection Regulation 2016: The UK law that protects the privacy of individuals, and ensures that information about them is kept securely and is processed fairly
  • Incubation period: The time between exposure to disease and the appearance of symptoms
  • Infectious period: The time during which an infected person can transmit the infection to another. The incidence of some infectious diseases must be reported to the Health Protection Agency.

Recognizing and reporting hazards: Hazards can be present in many different forms in early years setting Give some examples. All of these hazards can pose a risk to the children, staff and other adults in the setting, so it is important to make regular checks in both the indoor and outdoor environments. Most settings, including home-based care with childminders, will have an established system for recognizing and reporting hazards in order to minimize the risk and initiate an action plan for improvement. This will vary depending on the type of setting, the age, and stage of development of the children and the layout of the environment.