What are the principles of cross infection and basic food hygiene?

All Children Pick up Infectious Disease and Illnesses, This is because children don't have fully developed immune system. One Major reason for colds and flu's is because people are not that hygienic e.g. not washing hands, not blowing nose in a tissue, not disposing of waste properly

They are all principles of cross-infection, disposal of waste, food handling, handling body fluids, the issues concerning the spread of HIV and hepatitis and encouraging good hygiene practice in children.

What is cross infection? ;

· Cross infection is an infection spread from one organism to another because of a poor barrier protection.

· It is a common and important mode of infection with many varieties of organisms, including bacterial diseases, viral hepatitis A and some other faecal-oral infections, such as scabies, fungus infection, pinworms, and roundworms.

· Cross infection can occur in, schools and nurseries where individuals and groups interact with one another. Cross infection is a potential problem in all-institutional settings.

· Food hygiene

Bacteria that cause food poisoning are found in many foods, including:

· meat and meat products - in particular poultry, minced meat and pâtés

· seafood

· eggs and raw egg products - in particular mayonnaise

· unpasteurised milk (or milk contaminated after pasteurisation)

· soft and mould-ripened cheeses

· cooked foods - in particular fried rice and pasta (especially if these haven't been cooled and stored properly - see Storing food correctly)

· unwashed fruit and vegetables

Food poisoning; Food poisoning has a range of symptoms, including diarrhoea, stomach pains, nausea and vomiting. Depending on the cause and the person affected, it can lead to gastroenteritis (inflammation of the stomach and intestines), more serious illness, organ failure or even death.

To improve hygiene;

· Wash your hands and nails with hot, soapy water before handling food, between handling cooked and uncooked foods, and after going to the toilet.

· Rinse your hands well and dry them on a clean hand towel, a disposable paper towel, or under a hand dryer. Wet hands transfer germs more effectively than dry hands.

· Use different cloths for different jobs (e.g. washing up and cleaning surfaces). Wash them regularly.

Oral Hygiene

Good oral hygiene is essential for children. Children's milk teeth are likely to fall out and they must know how to prevent this happening to their adult teeth. Alternatives to sweets, biscuits and fizzy drinks should be made available.

J-cb TM