Download PDF
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · J Lab Physicians 2019; 11(04): 300-304
DOI: 10.4103/JLP.JLP_113_18
Original Article

Bacteriological profile and perception on hand hygiene in school-going Children

E. Kavitha
Department of Microbiology, Bharath University, Chennai, India
Department of Microbiology, Sri Venkateshwara Medical College and Research Center, Puducherry, India
,
R. Srikumar
Department of Microbiology, Centre for Research, Sri Lakshmi Narayana Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Puducherry, India
,
G. Muthu
Centre Research Laboratory, ICMR, Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, India
,
T. Sathyapriya
Department of IIIrd Year MBBS Student, Sri Venkateshwara Medical College and Research Center, Puducherry, India
› Author Affiliations Financial support and sponsorship Nil
› Further Information
Also available at
  PDF Download Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Handwashing is the most important daily activity to keep microbial infections at a distance. Schoolchildren tend to acquire most of the infections by not following the protocol of frequent handwashing which leads to frequent illnesses and absenteeism from school on a regular basis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted by means of collecting hand swabs from 133 schoolchildren to estimate the extent of germs present. Furthermore, student's perception on hand hygiene was assessed by means of questionnaire.

RESULTS: Among the schoolchildren, majority (68.4%) of them felt washing hands is important. Almost 56.4% of students washed their hands before eating lunch, but only 64.7% of them used soaps for cleaning their hands. Furthermore, hand swabs of 133 schoolchildren showed the growth of potential pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp., and Enterococcus faecalis.

CONCLUSIONS: Hands of schoolchildren were found to be contaminated and measures to inculcate the habit of frequent handwashing with soap are essential.

Key words

Bacteriological profile - hand hygiene - student's perception - use of soap


Publication History

Received: 21 August 2018

Accepted: 23 November 2019

Article published online:
07 April 2020

© 2019.

Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Private Ltd.
A-12, Second Floor, Sector -2, NOIDA -201301, India

 

  • References

  • 1 Bloomfield SF, Aiello AE, Cookson B, O'Boyle C, Larson EL. The effectiveness of hand hygiene procedures in reducing the risks of infections in home and community settings including handwashing and alcohol-based hand sanitizers. Am J Infect Control 2007;35:27-64.
  • 2 Ray SK, Amarchand R, Srikanth J, Majumdar KK. A study on prevalence of bacteria in the hands of children and their perception on hand washing in two schools of Bangalore and Kolkata. Indian J Public Health 2011;55:293-7.
  • 3 Best M, Neuhauser D. Ignaz Semmelweis and the birth of infection control. Qual Saf Health Care 2004;13:233-4.
  • 4 Ray SK, Dobe M, Maji S, Chakrabarty D, Sinha Roy AK, Basu SS. A pilot survey on hand washing among some communities of West Bengal. Indian J Public Health 2006;50:225-30.
  • 5 Kyriacou A, Drakopoulou S, Georgaki I, Fountoulakis M, Mitsou E, Lasaridi KE, et al. Screening for faecal contamination in primary schools in Crete, Greece. Child Care Health Dev 2009;35:159-63.
  • 6 Tambekar DH, Shirsat SD. Hand washing: A cornerstone to prevent the transmission of diarrhoeal infection. Asian J Med Sci 2009;1:100-3.
  • 7 Pittet D, Allegranzi B, Boyce J, World Health Organization World Alliance for Patient Safety First Global Patient Safety Challenge Core Group of Experts. The World Health Organization Guidelines on Hand Hygiene in Health Care and their consensus recommendations. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2009;30:611-22.
  • 8 Kilpatrick C, Allegranzi B, Pittet D; WHO First Global Patient Safety Challenge: Clean Care is Safer Care. Contributing to the training of health-care workers around the globe. Int J Infect Control 2011;7:1-8.
  • 9 Allegranzi B, Conway L, Larson E, Pittet D. Status of the implementation of the world health organization multimodal hand hygiene strategy in United States of America health care facilities. Am J Infect Control 2014;42:224-30.
  • 10 World Health Organization. Guidelines on core Components of Infection Prevention and Control Programmes at the National and Acute Health care Facility Level. World Health Organization; 2016.
  • 11 Pittet D, Mourouga P, Perneger TV. Compliance with handwashing in a teaching hospital. Infection Control Program. Ann Intern Med 1999;130:126-30.
  • 12 Vivas AP, Gelaye B, Aboset N, Kumie A, Berhane Y, Williams MA. Knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of hygiene among school children in Angolela, Ethiopia. J Prev Med Hyg 2010;51:73-9.
  • 13 Curtis VA, Danquah LO, Aunger RV. Planned, motivated and habitual hygiene behaviour: An eleven country review. Health Educ Res 2009;24:655-73.
  • 14 Ebong RD. Environmental health knowledge and practice survey among secondary schoolchildren in Zaria, Nigeria. Environ Health Perspect 1994;102:310-2.
  • 15 Monse B, Benzian H, Naliponguit E, Belizario V, Schratz A, van Palenstein Helderman W. The Fit for School Health Outcome Study – A longitudinal survey to assess health impacts of an integrated school health programme in the Philippines. BMC Public Health 2013;13:256.
  • 16 Luby SP, Agboatwalla M, Feikin DR, Painter J, Billhimer W, Altaf A, et al. Effect of handwashing on child health: A randomised controlled trial. Lancet 2005;366:225-33.
  • 17 Sircar BK, Sengupta PG, Mondal SK, Gupta DN, Saha NC, Ghosh S, et al. Effect of handwashing on the incidence of diarrhoea in a Calcutta slum. J Diarrhoeal Dis Res 1987;5:112-4.