title: Infection control assessment after an influenza outbreak in a residential care facility for children and young adults with neurologic and neurodevelopmental conditions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of infection control among staff in a residential care facility for children and young adults with neurologic and neurodevelopmental conditions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Self-administered survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  Residential care facility (facility A).
  
  
  METHODS
  Facility A staff ([Formula: see text]).
  
  
  METHODS
  We distributed a survey to staff at facility A. We classified staff with direct care responsibilities as clinical (ie, physicians, nurses, and therapists) or nonclinical (ie, habilitation assistants, volunteers, and teachers) and used χ(2) tests to measure differences between staff agreement to questions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 248 surveys distributed, 200 (81%) were completed; median respondent age was 36 years; 85% were female; and 151 were direct care staff (50 clinical, 101 nonclinical). Among direct care staff respondents, 86% agreed they could identify residents with respiratory symptoms, 70% stayed home from work when ill with respiratory infection, 64% agreed that facility administration encouraged them to stay home when ill with respiratory infection, and 72% reported that ill residents with respiratory infections were separated from well residents. Clinical and nonclinical staff differed in agreement about using waterless hand gel as a substitute for handwashing (96% vs 78%; [Formula: see text]) and whether handwashing was done after touching residents (92% vs 75%; [Formula: see text]).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Respondents' knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding infection control could be improved, especially among nonclinical staff. Facilities caring for children and young adults with neurologic and neurodevelopmental conditions should encourage adherence to infection control best practices among all staff having direct contact with residents.
authors.affiliation: Epidemic Intelligence Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA. aazofeifa@cdc.gov
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Azofeifa
authors.forename: Lorraine F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Yeung
authors.forename: Georgina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Peacock
authors.forename: Cynthia A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: Loren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rodgers
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: DiOrio
authors.forename: Shannon L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Page
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fowler
authors.forename: Nimalie D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Stone
authors.forename: Lyn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Finelli
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Jhung
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002648:Child; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000628:therapy; D012112:Residential Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000078329:Workforce; D055815:Young Adult