Japan Society for the Promotion of Science:Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
Date (from‐to) : 2016/08 -2018/03
Author : YOSHIKAWA Hiromi; YANO Hisako; MURABATA Mayumi; SUMIDA Chizuko; SUZU Misato
We investigated hygienic control of toys and the care environment in pediatric outpatient with the aim of preventing healthcare-associated infections. Three surveys were conducted in two facilities: (1) a questionnaire and behavior observation survey of 89 children and the adults accompanying them, (2) a questionnaire of infection control nurses, and (3) a cleanliness survey using an adenosine triphosphate (ATP) test before and after toys and 327 locations in the care environment were cleaned. In the waiting rooms, 20 of 66 children (30.3%) touched the floor. Picture book and fabric toys were considered difficult to take care in the hygienic control. The ATP level (median value) was 5,063 relative light units (RLU) before cleaning and 2,608 RLU after cleaning (p < 0.001). These findings demonstrate that there hygienic control of toys and other playthings can be improved in pediatric outpatient.