Prevention Measures

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To stop Cryptosporidium from spreading in the child care setting:

Inform all staff about the symptoms of Crypto, how infection is spread, and control measures to be followed.
Inform parents about the symptoms of Crypto, how infection is spread, outbreak control policies, and needed changes in hygiene and cleanliness.
Notify parents of children who have been in direct contact with a child or an adult caregiver with diarrhea. Parents should contact the child's healthcare provider if their child develops diarrhea.
Inform staff and parents of children about Crypto’s potential to be a severe disease in people with weakened immune systems. Immunocompromised persons should consult their healthcare provider for further guidance.

Exclude any child with diarrhea from the child care setting until the diarrhea has stopped.

Children who are infected with the parasite but who do not have diarrhea may be allowed to return.
Recently returning children can be grouped together in one classroom to minimize exposing uninfected children to the parasite.
Move adults with diarrhea to jobs that minimize opportunities for spreading infection (for example, administrative work instead of food preparation).

Exclude children ill with diarrhea from water-play and swimming activities.
Exclude children diagnosed with Crypto from water-play and swimming activities for an additional 2 weeks after their diarrhea has resolved.
Discourage children from getting the water in their mouths and swallowing it.
Have children and staff wash their hands before using water tables.
Have children and staff shower with soap before swimming in the water.

If a child is too young to shower independently, have staff wash the child, particularly the rear end, with soap and water.

Change children’s diapers in a diaper-changing area or bathroom and not by the water.

Prohibit the use of temporary inflatable or rigid fill-and-drain swimming pools and slides because they can spread germs in child-care facilities.

Reinforce frequent hand washing and good hand washing technique for all children and adults.
Good hand washing means

Wet your hands with clean running water and apply soap. Use warm water if it is available.
Rub hands together to make a lather and scrub all surfaces, including under the fingernails.
Continue rubbing hands for 20 seconds. Need a timer? Imagine singing “Happy Birthday” twice through to a friend!
Rinse hands well under running water.
Dry your hands using a disposable paper towel or a hand dryer.
Use your disposable paper towel, if possible, to turn off the faucet.

Note:

Cryptosporidium

Observe hand washing or assist when needed.
Wash children’s hands when they first arrive at the child care facility, after they use the toilet, after having their diapers changed, and before eating snacks or meals.

Wash hands after using the toilet, after helping a child use the toilet, after diapering a child, and before handling or eating food. Note: Where staffing permits, people who change diapers should not prepare or serve food.

Separate diaper-changing areas from children’s play and food preparation areas.
Use disposable gloves and change them after each diaper change.
Use disposable paper over diaper-changing surfaces and change it after each diaper change.
Ensure children wear clothing over their diapers to reduce the opportunity for leakage.
Wash hands: both yours and the child’s after each diaper change.

Disinfect surfaces and objects, including but not limited to bathrooms, diaper-changing areas, food-preparation areas, tabletops, high chairs, and toys.
otify the state or local health department about an excessive level of diarrhea or any Crypto cases in the child-care facility. Crypto is a nationally reportable disease.

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