Abstract
This article provides an overview of the problem of infectious disease outbreaks in infant/toddler daycare centers. The economic costs incurred by the daycare center attendees' families and employers, and the center itself are presented as just one rationale for the implementation of effective infection control programs. A review of the daycare center infectious disease literature provides an overview of the most common pathogens encountered in these settings and the health implications for center children, their families, and the center staff. A model for understanding infectious disease transmission in a daycare center setting is presented to illustrate the discussion in the text. The article concludes with a review of infection control practices, research findings on the effectiveness of certain practices, and suggestions for the implementation of an effective infection control program.
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Hutchinson, M.K. Infectious diseases and infection control in infant-toddler daycare centers. Child Youth Care Forum 21, 183–193 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00757569
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00757569