Infection control in day-care centres in Greenland.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to determine hygienic habits and precautions taken with main focus on hand hygiene, cleaning and laundry in day-care centres in Greenland.


METHODS
In the period 2000-2002 we investigated 33 day-care centres in towns along the west coast of Greenland using a questionnaire. The majority of the day-care centres (18/33) were found in the biggest towns in Greenland Nuuk and Sisimiut.


RESULTS
The institutions covered 34% of children attending day-care centres in Greenland. Although most caregivers and children would wash their hands before meals and after changing diaper/toilet, not all did so. One third of caretakers did not wash hands after wiping a child's nose. Paper towels were only available as recommended in 25% of day-care centres. Linen was washed weekly or more often per month, but at lower temperatures than recommended. Most floors were washed daily.


CONCLUSIONS
The day-care centres in general did not follow hygienic recommendations sufficiently, and the hygienic behaviours resembled more those of home. For public institutions this is not sufficient to prevent cross-contamination, as the risk of spread of microorganisms is high in institutions with many contacts. Caregivers are the most important role models in teaching the child good hygienic habits such as hand hygiene. Hygienic education of caregivers and early hygienic training of children, preferably already in nursery, is therefore important and should be strengthened.
Holt
Jette
J
Department of Hospital Hygiene, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Skifte
Turid Bjarnason
TB
Koch
Anders
A
D002648:Child; D002656:Child Day Care Centers / Q000458:organization & administration*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006116:Greenland / Q000453:epidemiology; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires