The impact of common infections on school absenteeism during an academic year.
BACKGROUND
School absenteeism because of infections is one of the most important problems facing both public and private primary schools. The aim of the study was to assess the impact of infections on school absenteeism and their reduction with a handwashing program using hand sanitizer.


METHODS
The study was an 8-month-long, randomized, controlled open study (N = 1,609 children, aged 4-12 years old) at 5 state schools in Almeria (Spain). The experimental group (EG) washed their hands with soap and water, complemented with the use of hand sanitizer, and the control group (CG) followed the usual handwashing procedure. The total number of episodes and days missed as well as those because of upper respiratory infections and gastrointestinal infections were compared in both groups with a Z-test.


RESULTS
The students were absent 12,386 days in 7,945 episodes. The incidence of total absent episodes and percent of missed days, including those because of upper respiratory infections and gastrointestinal infections, were significantly lower in the EG than the CG (P < .001), and this was maintained through the flu pandemic period.


CONCLUSIONS
School absenteeism because of infections in schools is reduced when a hand hygiene program utilizing sanitizing gels is properly carried out, especially during the flu season.
Distrito Sanitario Atención Primaria Almería, Almería, España. Electronic address: eazorm@yahoo.es.
Ernestina
E
Azor-Martínez
Servicio de Pediatría, Hospital Torrecárdenas, Almería, España.
Yolada
Y
Gonzalez-Jimenez
Distrito Sanitario Atención Primaria Almería, Almería, España.
Maria Luisa
ML
Seijas-Vazquez
Servicio de Pediatría, Hospital Torrecárdenas, Almería, España.
Elena
E
Cobos-Carrascosa
Universidad de Almería, Almería, España.
Joaquin
J
Santisteban-Martínez
Universidad de Almería, Almería, España.
Jose Miguel
JM
Martínez-López
Servicio de Pediatría, Hospital Torrecárdenas, Almería, España.
Esperanza
E
Jimenez-Noguera
Servicio de Pediatría, Hospital Torrecárdenas, Almería, España.
María del Mar
Mdel M
Galan-Requena
Estadistico de la Fundación para la Investigación Biosanitaria Andalucía Oriental Alejandro Otero (FIBAO), Hospital Virgen de las Nieves, Granada, España.
Pablo
P
Garrido-Fernández
Universidad de Almería, Almería, España.
Jenna M
JM
Strizzi
Servicio de Pediatría, Hospital Torrecárdenas, Almería, España.
Francisco
F
Gimenez-Sanchez
D000041:Absenteeism; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D063373:Hand Hygiene / Q000379:methods*; D064548:Hand Sanitizers / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012574:Schools / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013030:Spain
D064548:Hand Sanitizers
Absent; Gastrointestinal infections; Hand sanitizer; Handwashing; Influenza; School children; Upper respiratory infections