I don’t know about you, but when I recite that title in my head that stereotypical organ music synonymous with an ominous statement – “Dum, Dum, Dummmm...” – follows suit.
So what’s the verdict?
BOTH!
I think we can all agree that toys bring a lot of joy to a young child. Certainly I’m preparing myself for the mountain of toys that will soon take up residence in my living room as my 8-week old daughter grows older. Unfortunately, these items can also be a reservoir for potentially pathogenic microorganisms that may be present in saliva, feces and other bodily secretions. This begs the question – how can we address this potential contamination?
Lucky for us, CHICA-Canada published their practice recommendations for the handling of toys in late 2011. The Paediatric Interest Group within CHICA developed the position statement and included some clear and concise infection prevention practice recommendations for toys.
The pillars of CHICA’s IPAC recommendations for toys do not drastically differ from those encountered with medical devices our found in more traditional settings. Hand hygiene; toy material/design; frequency and responsibility for cleaning and disinfection; toy storage; and proper procedure for toy cleaning and disinfection are all included.
Hand Hygiene:
-Children should be encouraged to clean and disinfect their hands before and after playing with toys
-To facilitate compliance, play areas should have access to Alcohol Based Hand Rub (ABHR) or hand wash station
Toy Material/Design:
-Toys that are shared should be non-porous with smooth surfaces to facilitate effective cleaning
Frequency and Responsibility of Toy Cleaning and Disinfection:
-All toys should be cleaned and disinfected between users following written procedures
-Responsibility for cleaning and disinfecting toys should be assigned to specific personnel
-Large toys such as playhouses should have their high touch surfaces cleaned and disinfected daily
-For porous items that cannot be cleaned and disinfected, such as books or magazines, these should be discarded when visibly soiled
Toy Storage:
-An area to segregate dirty or used toys should be defined
-Clean toys should be stored in a manner to prevent contamination
Cleaning and Disinfection Procedure for Toys:
-Inspect toys for damage; if damaged, toy should be discarded
-Best practice recommends that toys are cleaned using hot soapy water prior to disinfection; if an approved one-step disinfectant cleaner is used, it can be effectively used for both the cleaning and disinfection of the toy
-Ideally the disinfectant being used is safe, effective against pathogens of concern (enteric viruses such as Rotavirus and Norovirus) and fast acting
-Toys should be rinsed thoroughly after the disinfection contact time has elapsed.
All in all, the recommendations are straightforward and easy to follow. My colleagues and I receive regular inquiries from child care facilities pertaining to their IPAC practices and CHICA’s Practice Recommendations have already proved to be a valuable tool in our assisting these end-users.
For the full recommendations, please refer to CHICA’s Website:
http://www.chica.org/pdf/Toys%20Practice%20Recommendations%202011.pdf
Now where should the dirty toy bin should be at my house.....
Hasta la vista
Lee – The Germinator
