Prevent the spread of Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease with these essential cleaning and disinfecting tips.
Essential Guide to Cleaning and Disinfecting After Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease
Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFMD) is a highly contagious viral infection that primarily affects young children.
Characterized by fever, mouth sores, and a rash on the hands and feet, HFMD spreads quickly through person-to-person contact and contaminated surfaces.
Proper cleaning and disinfecting are essential to prevent further transmission and protect your family and community.
This guide will provide you with detailed steps for effective cleaning, the importance of hygiene education, and ongoing prevention measures to keep HFMD at bay.
By implementing these practices, you can create a safer, healthier environment and reduce the risk of future outbreaks.
Understanding Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease
Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFMD) is an illness caused by enteroviruses, such as the Coxsackievirus.
It commonly affects young children and is characterized by fever, painful sores in the mouth, and a rash on the hands and feet.
The disease spreads easily through direct person-to-person contact and contact with contaminated surfaces and objects.
Due to its highly contagious nature, effective cleaning and hygiene practices are essential to prevent the virus from spreading.
Importance of Cleaning and Disinfecting
Proper cleaning and disinfecting are crucial in preventing the spread of the HFMD virus and ensuring the safety of everyone in the affected environment.
Effective cleaning practices eliminate the virus from surfaces and objects, reducing the risk of transmission.
On the other hand, inadequate disinfection can result in continued outbreaks, prolonging the presence of the virus and increasing the likelihood of more individuals becoming infected.
Therefore, adhering to thorough cleaning protocols is essential for controlling the spread of HFMD.
Steps to Clean and Disinfect After HFMD
Gather Cleaning Supplies
To effectively clean and disinfect after an HFMD case, ensure you have the necessary supplies, including chlorine-based disinfectants, gloves, masks, and disposable wipes.
Hand Hygiene
Thorough hand washing is essential.
Follow proper hand-washing techniques and wash frequently to reduce the risk of spreading the virus.
Cleaning Surfaces and Objects
Disinfect frequently touched surfaces like doorknobs and light switches.
Regularly clean toys, utensils, and personal items, and ensure that bedding and laundry are thoroughly sanitized.
Disinfecting with Chlorine-Based Products
Prepare the disinfectant solution correctly according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Apply disinfectants properly, ensuring they remain on surfaces for the recommended contact time to effectively kill the virus.
Isolation and Hygiene Education
Isolate infected individuals to prevent the virus from spreading.
Educate family members on proper hygiene practices and emphasize the importance of not sharing personal items to reduce the risk of infection.
Special Considerations
Handle Laundry from Infected Individuals with Care
- Use gloves when handling laundry from infected individuals.
- Wash clothing, bedding, and towels at the highest temperature suitable for the fabric.
- Avoid shaking out laundry to prevent the virus from becoming airborne.
- Use a chlorine-based disinfectant in the wash if possible.
Clean Areas Contaminated by Bodily Fluids Thoroughly
- Wear protective gloves and masks when cleaning areas contaminated by bodily fluids such as saliva, mucus, or feces.
- Use disposable wipes or cloths to clean the area, and then disinfect with a chlorine-based solution.
- Dispose of cleaning materials in a sealed plastic bag.
Ensure Proper Ventilation During Cleaning
- Open windows and doors to provide adequate ventilation while cleaning and disinfecting.
- Use fans to help circulate fresh air and reduce the concentration of airborne virus particles.
- Ensure that cleaning products are used in well-ventilated areas to avoid inhaling fumes.
Ongoing Prevention Measures
Maintain Regular Cleaning Routines
- Establish a consistent schedule for cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces such as doorknobs, light switches, and countertops.
- Regularly sanitize toys, utensils, and personal items to minimize the risk of virus transmission.
- Ensure that shared spaces are cleaned daily to maintain a hygienic environment.
Continue Practicing and Teaching Good Hand Hygiene
- Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after using the restroom, before eating, and after coughing or sneezing.
- Use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.
- Educate family members and caregivers on proper hand-washing techniques and the importance of frequent hand washing.
Educate Children on Hygiene Practices to Prevent Future Outbreaks
- Teach children to wash their hands regularly and properly, especially before meals and after playing outside.
- Encourage children to avoid touching their face, mouth, and eyes with unwashed hands.
- Explain the importance of not sharing personal items such as cups, utensils, and towels to prevent the spread of germs.
Recommendations
Hand Hygiene
- Intensify efforts to educate everyone on the proper techniques for hand washing.
- Ensure hands are washed thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after using the restroom, before eating, and after coughing or sneezing.
- Use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.
Disinfection
- Use chlorine-based disinfectants to clean surfaces and objects as they are more effective in killing the HFMD virus.
- Regularly disinfect frequently touched surfaces like doorknobs, light switches, and countertops.
- Ensure that toys, utensils, and personal items are sanitized routinely.
Isolation and Education
- Isolate individuals who are infected to prevent the spread of the virus.
- Educate family members and caregivers on hygiene practices, including the proper use of personal protective equipment.
- Emphasize the importance of not sharing personal items such as towels, cups, and utensils.
Environmental Cleaning
- Regularly disinfect shared items and common areas to reduce the risk of virus transmission.
- Avoid sharing personal items to minimize the potential for spreading the virus.
- Maintain a consistent cleaning schedule to ensure a hygienic environment.
References
- Guo, N., Ma, H., Deng, J., Ma, Y., Huang, L., Guo, R., & Zhang, L. (2018). Effect of hand washing and personal hygiene on hand food mouth disease. Medicine, 97(51), e13144. https://doi.org/10.1097/md.0000000000013144
- Sittisarn, S., Wongnuch, P., Laor, P., Inta, C., & Apidechkul, T. (2018). Effectiveness of hand foot mouth disease prevention and control measures between high and low epidemic areas, Northern Thailand. Journal of Health Research, 32(3), 217–228. https://doi.org/10.1108/jhr-05-2018-023
Takeaway
Preventing the spread of Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease requires diligent cleaning and disinfection practices.
By following the recommended steps for gathering supplies, maintaining hand hygiene, and effectively cleaning surfaces and objects, you can significantly reduce the risk of infection.
Isolating infected individuals and educating everyone on proper hygiene practices further helps in controlling outbreaks.
Ongoing prevention measures, such as regular cleaning routines and continuous education, are essential for maintaining a safe and healthy environment.
By adhering to these guidelines, you can ensure the well-being of your family and community, and prevent the recurrence of HFMD.
If you would like more information regarding the effectiveness of high-performance infection prevention and control measures, or if you would like to schedule a free, no-obligation on-site assessment of your facility's custodial needs, contact us today for a free quote!
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