Presentation by Sherry Varley, RN, CIC and Karen Singson, RN, CIC Healthcare Associated Infection Program

1. 1
Infection Prevention
and Control in Schools
Sherry Varley, RN, CIC
Karen Singson, RN, CIC
Healthcare Associated Infection Program

2.  Apply effective infection prevention practices
in school settings
– Maintain clean environment safe and
conducive to learning
– Effectively contain infective organism
spread leading to infection exposure
– Maximize cooperation from students,
teachers and other school staff to prevent
infection transmission
Learning Objectives
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3. Schools can be instrumental in
keeping their communities healthy
Resource: CDC, 2011
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4. Each school year:
 40% of children miss at least 3
days due to infection
 22 million school days are lost
due to common cold
 38 million school days are lost
due to influenza
Resource: CDC, 2011
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5. 5
How does your school meet the
following challenges to prevent
infection transmission?

6. How does your school stay clean?
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7. How does your school help others cooperate
with infection prevention strategies?
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8. How are infectious secretions contained?
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9. How does your school prevent infections when
people are in close contact with each other?
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10. How does shared equipment
increase the risk of infection
transmission?
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11. Quick Review
What is necessary for an
infection to occur?
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12. Infectious
Agent
Reservoir Host
Portal of Exit
Mode of
Transmission
Portal of Entry
Susceptible
Host
Chain of Infection
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13. Who gets infections?
(Susceptible Host)
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14. 14
Dependent upon:
 genetic factors
‒ gender
‒ DNA
 general actors of infection protection
‒ skin and mucous membranes
‒ gastric acid
‒ cilia in the respiratory tract
Host Susceptibility

15.  Depressed immune response
 Co-morbidities
 Malnutrition
 Antibiotic usage
 Invasive devices
 Stress
What increases your susceptibility
to infection?
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16. What decreases your susceptibility
to infection?
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17. 17
Acquiring protective antibodies through
infection (active acquired immunity)

18. Vaccination
(active acquired immunity)
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19. Administration of immune globulin or antitoxin
(passive acquired immunity)
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20. Transplacental transfer of maternal antibodies
(passive acquired immunity)
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21. What about the germs?
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22. Microscopic organisms
are everywhere
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Usually, microorganisms included in
our “normal flora” protect us from
invasion of other microorganisms

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Sometimes our own flora can give us an infection

25. What are the
causative agents?
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26. Bacteria
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27. Viruses
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28. Fungi, yeasts & molds
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29. Protozoa,
usually vector-borne
as in West Nile virus
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30. Ectoparasites, causing lice, scabies,
flea infestations, etc.
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31. What about multi-drug
resistant organisms?
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32. How do infectious agents
“travel” to the next susceptible
person? (Mode of Transmission)
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Droplet transmission

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Airborne transmission

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Contact transmission

36. Where do infectious agents
“hide”? (Reservoir)
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37. Reservoirs
 humans
 animals
 environment
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38. acutely infected person
carrier
colonized person
Human Reservoirs
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40. How do infectious agents
“get in and out” of us?
(Portals of Entry & Exit)
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41. Respiratory tract
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42. 42
Alimentary tract

43. Skin
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44. How can infections be
prevented in school
settings?
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45.  clean
 contain
 cooperate
Break the chain
of infection
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46. Hand hygiene
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47.  Frequently touched surfaces
– Door knobs
– Diaper changing tables
– Cabinet handles
 Equipment
– Lifts
– Wheelchairs
– Mats
– Slings
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Clean & disinfect

48. You can’t disinfect dirt….
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49. One-wipe, one-application
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50. Contain organism spread by
vaccination of susceptible persons
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51. Use personal
protective
equipment
(PPE)
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52.  Exclude students according
to school district criteria
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53.  Communicate
 Educate
 Monitor compliance
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Maximize cooperation

54.  Maintaining a clean environment
 Containing infective organisms
 Maximizing cooperation
Infection risks in schools can
be effectively decreased by:
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55. • CDC (2014). Guide to Infection Prevention for
Outpatient Settings.
• CDC (2015). Carbapenem-resistant
Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) Infection: Patient FAQs.
• CDC (2013). Information and Advice about MRSA
for School and Daycare Officials.
• CDC (2009). MDRO Prevention and Control.
• CDC (2011). Infectious Diseases at School.
References
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56. • Aronson, S.S. & Shope, T.R. (2013). Managing
Infectious Diseases in Child Care and Schools, 3rd
ed. American Academy of Pediatrics.
• Caring for our children: National health and safety
performance standards; Guidelines for early care
and education programs, 3rd ed. American
Academy of Pediatrics http://nrckids.org.
Helpful Resources
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