Health linked to improved cleaning
April 1st 2004 Children are less likely to get sick and need antibiotics in day care centres that are more thoroughly disinfected, according to a new study released by the Childrens Welfare League in the USA, February 25, 2004. Conducted by the University of Arizona, the study monitored the health of more than 1000 children in day care centres for 10 weeks. Half of the centres in the study were cleaned and disinfected using more precise cleaning tools and guidelines, while the others were cleaned as they had been in the past.
According to the report, the study showed a 37% decrease in gastrointestinal illness in locations cleaned more thoroughly, 36% fewer prescriptions for antibiotics were prescribed, 17% fewer reported earaches, and 10% came down with fewer upper respiratory illnesses, such as the cold or flu.
This study indicates once again the vital role cleaning plays in health, say Robert Robinson Sr, President of Kaivac, Hamilton, OH, makers of the no-touch spray and blow dry cleaning system, often used in day care centers such as those participating in the study. People, especially children can be kept healthier by cleaning and disinfecting more thoroughly.
One of the reasons illness spreads so quickly in day care centres is because hand washing is often not sufficient to prevent contagious diseases from being spread from hand to mouth. Its almost impossible to hand-wipe clean every wall, floor, fixture and surface touched, especially in a day care setting, says Robinson. And, with personnel cutbacks in so many schools, its now out of the question.
According to Robinson, a system that sprays cleaning solution or disinfectant over surfaces and fixtures, washing soil and germs away, is a more comprehensive option. And not needing to touch surfaces protects the health of the cleaning worker as well, he says.
Reduced illness means that fewer antibiotics are prescribed. Widespread use of antibiotics, especially among children, has led to hard-to-treat, drug resistant bacteria worldwide, and numerous public health campaigns highlight the need to reduce the rising use of antibiotics.
According to the report, When the World Health Organization sees an improvement of five percent, it considers an intervention successful. But we saw improvements that ranged from 10% to 37% clearly important for public health in this country. More articles from Kaivac UK Ltd: | 
