Chain of infection | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Download PDF [429 kb] Germs (agent)
Where germs live (reservoir)
How germs get out (portal of exit)
Germs get around (mode of transmission)
How germs get in (portal of entry)
Next sick person (susceptible host)
Cycle repeats |
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Chicken pox reporting form | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chicken pox reporting form (PDF) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cleaning and disinfection checklist | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Commonly touched surfaces and items should be cleaned and disinfected frequently (e.g. at least once a day) to limit the potential spread of germs. When the facility is experiencing an outbreak, cleaning and disinfection of these surfaces and items is required more often. Develop a checklist specific to your facility, using this checklist as a guide. Remember to always work from clean areas to dirty areas. If using household bleach solutions, please see the household bleach solution table as a reference on how to prepare bleach solutions for sanitizing or disinfection of specific surfaces and items . General areas:
Kitchen/staff room:
Child and staff washrooms:
Important points to remember:
For more information, call Ottawa Public Health at 613-580-6744 |
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Cleaning and disinfection of toys | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Infants and young children share toys and often place them in their mouths. This increases the risk of spreading infections. To reduce this risk, play areas and storage spaces should be cleaned and disinfected on a regular basis. Ensure that the disinfectant is safe and suitable for use on toys. Consult the manufacturer's recommendations for dilution and contact times for these disinfectants. Cleaning and disinfecting hard plastic toys
Cleaning and disinfecting soft, porous toys or dress up clothes
Cleaning other items
Follow instructionsIt might be tempting to mix cleaning products to make sure your facility is germ-free -- but don’t. Mixing some cleaners and disinfectants (like chlorine bleach and ammonia) can be harmful, even deadly. Others can irritate your eyes, nose, or throat and cause breathing problems. For more information, call Ottawa Public Health at 613-580-6744. |
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Environmental cleaning and disinfection in child care centres and schools | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shared items and high touch surfaces can be sources for spread of infection, especially in child care centres and schools. Such surfaces may include door knobs, taps, handrails, phones, computer keyboards, elevator buttons, countertops, as well as shared sports equipment or toys. These surfaces and items can easily become contaminated by viruses or bacteria which can spread from one person to another. Developing policies and procedures for cleaning and disinfection is important to prevent the spread of infections in your centre or school. CleaningCleaning is the physical action of removing debris from a surface. Cleaning with soap or detergent, and water, will remove organic material such as food, body fluids, fecal matter, or soil from surfaces. Residue from the soap or detergent must be rinsed off prior to disinfection to prevent neutralization of some disinfectants. DisinfectionDisinfection must occur after cleaning. Disinfection inactivates or kills microorganisms (germs) that may be present on surfaces and that cleaning does not remove. A number of disinfectant products can be used in a child care facility on a regular basis. A different disinfectant may be required in outbreak situations. This may be discussed with your product supplier or with Ottawa Public Health as needed. All-in-one cleaning/disinfecting products must contain a drug identification number (DIN) from Health Canada. The disinfectant contact time, which is the time that a surface must remain wet for a disinfectant to be effective, varies between products. Follow manufacturers' instructions for disinfectant contact times, dilution and handling of products, including for pre-saturated disinfectant wipes. If gloves are indicated for handling a product, ensure they are single use and discarded between tasks. Flip-top bottles are preferred to apply cleaning solution. If using a spray bottle, saturate the cloth first then wipe the surface. Avoid the use of aerosol cans as this can propel the germs and cleaning solution into the air. Household bleach diluted in water is an inexpensive and effective disinfectant and can be used for most surfaces. It should be prepared daily. Ensure that surfaces are cleaned with a detergent or cleaning agent before the household bleach mixture is used as a disinfectant. Follow instructionsIt might be tempting to mix cleaning products to make sure your facility is germ-free -- but don’t. Mixing some cleaners and disinfectants (like chlorine bleach and ammonia) can be harmful, even deadly. Others can irritate your eyes, nose, or throat and cause breathing problems. The following table can be used as a reference for preparing household bleach solutions:
*Note: The contact time, also known as the wet time, is the time that the disinfectant needs to stay wet on a surface to make sure it can kill all the germs. It is the length of time you leave the solution on the surface before wiping it down. |
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Hand hygiene for infants and young children | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Keeping children's hands clean is the best way to keep them from spreading germs. Young children need to be taught when and how to clean their hands. It is important for children to clean their hands frequently, including, but not limited to:
Hand hygiene techniquesCleaning children's hands can be done by washing them with warm running water and soap or by using alcohol based hand sanitizers. Children may need assistance and supervision while washing their hands to ensure that they are washed correctly. Washing your hands
Cleaning Your Hands with a Hand Sanitizer
Washing a young child's hands
Cleaning a Young Child's Hands with Hand Sanitizer
For more information, call Ottawa Public Health at 613-580-6744 |
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Hand hygiene resources | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Learn more about preventing the spread of germs in the below resources prepared by OPH. The information below is available in other formats. Contact Ottawa Public Health at 613-580-6744 to request the document in an accessible format.
Hand Washing Poster only:
Hand Washing Poster and Factsheet:Hand Sanitizing Poster only:
Hand Sanitizing Poster and Factsheet:Cough Etiquette Poster only:
Cough Etiquette Poster and Factsheet: |
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Infection prevention and control measures during outbreaks | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Exclusion of ill children and/or staffChildren and/or staff should stay at home when they have:
During an outbreak, staff should be vigilant about monitoring children for symptoms of illness. Children returning to the child care centre or school after illness should be able to resume all regular activities. Cohorting of ill childrenIf possible, ill children should be kept in a separate, supervised area that can be easily cleaned and disinfected, until a parent or guardian takes them home. Cleaning and disinfectionRoutine cleaning and disinfection is essential to prevent the spread of germs. During outbreaks, you may need to take additional measures, including, but not limited to, the following:
Hand HygieneHand hygiene is essential for all staff and children to prevent the spread of germs. Infants and young children should be supervised when performing hand hygiene to ensure it is done properly. Hand hygiene includes both hand washing and hand sanitizing and should be done more frequently during outbreaks. You must ensure that:
SignageAppropriate notices and posters should be posted at all entrances to advise parents, guardians, and visitors of an outbreak at the child care centre or school. For more information, call the Ottawa Public Health Outbreak Reporting Line at 613-580-6744 ext 26325 |
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Outbreak signage | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
If possible, print the signs in colour and post, facing outwards, at the main entrance and all other public entrances. Outbreak signage (PDF) |
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Reporting outbreaks to Ottawa Public Health | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
A school should report an outbreak of illness to Ottawa Public Health (OPH):If there are more than 15% of children and/or staff absent with similar symptoms within the same classroom or program OR within the entire school on the same day. Respiratory illness symptoms may include fever, cough, runny nose, congestion, sneezing, sore throat or difficulty swallowing. Other symptoms may include headache, sore muscles, fatigue, poor appetite and irritability. Enteric illness symptoms may include diarrhea, vomiting, nausea and stomach cramps. A school should also report unusual increases in absenteeism due to illness to OPHIncreases in absenteeism due to illness above usual rates are reportable to Ottawa Public Health. If children and/or staff are absent with similar symptoms at a rate that is higher than usual for your school, an outbreak may exist. Report to OPHIf an outbreak is suspected, notify OPH at 613-580-6744, ext 26325, Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm or 3-1-1 after hours. If an outbreak is confirmed, OPH will provide recommendations to manage the outbreak and monitor the outbreak daily until absenteeism rates return to baseline When an outbreak is suspected or confirmed, implement outbreak control measures
Do you have children absent with other illnesses?Refer to the Guidelines for Communicable Disease and Other Childhood Health Issues for Schools and Child Care Centres. If you do not have the guidelines, visit OttawaPublicHealth.ca or call OPH at 613-580-6744. Outbreaks of respiratory and enteric illnesses are reportable to the local health unit under the Health Protection and Promotion Act (HPPA), 1990 |
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