Obviously, the need for cleanliness is not limited to hands and playthings. All facilities and supplies at day-care centers should be washed with soap and water and then disinfected on a regular, frequent schedule. For disinfectants, CDC recommends either a commercial product that kills bacteria, viruses, and parasites such as Giardia or a bleach solution. The solution should be made daily but can be stored in a spray bottle. Disinfectants must be kept out of the reach of children.
Any parent knows how disagreeable even a short bout of diarrhea can be in a young child.
But public health workers know that diseases spread from day-care centers can have further, more ominous consequences. A day-care center child who contracts hepatitis A, for example, will probably develop only mild symptoms or none at all. Spread to adult family members, however, the infection carries the risk of more serious illness, as well as the possibility of further transmission to the community, particularly if the adult handles or prepares food. According to the National Restaurant Association, there are 8 million food service workers in 550,000 establishments in this country.