Effects of hand hygiene campaigns on incidence of laboratory-confirmed influenza and absenteeism in schoolchildren, Cairo, Egypt

• Published in: Emerging infectious diseases Vol. 17; no. 4; pp. 619 - 625
• Main Authors: Talaat, Maha, Afifi, Salma, Dueger, Erica, El-Ashry, Nagwa, Marfin, Anthony, Kandeel, Amr, Mohareb, Emad, El-Sayed, Nasr
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States U.S. National Center for Infectious Diseases 01-04-2011; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Subjects: Absenteeism; Advertising campaigns; Analysis; Avian influenza viruses; campaigns; Child; Children; Conjunctivitis; Diarrhea; Disease transmission; Diseases; Egypt; Egypt - epidemiology; Elementary school students; Female; Hand Disinfection; Hand hygiene; Health aspects; Humans; Hygiene - education; Incidence; Infection control; Influenza; Influenza, Human - diagnosis; Influenza, Human - epidemiology; Influenza, Human - prevention & control; Male; Nurses; Public health; Risk factors; schoolchildren; Schools; Soap; Students; viruses; Worker absenteeism; Egypt
• ISSN: 1080-6040; 1080-6059
• DOI: 10.3201/eid1704.101353

To evaluate the effectiveness of an intensive hand hygiene campaign on reducing absenteeism caused by influenza-like illness (ILI), diarrhea, conjunctivitis, and laboratory-confirmed influenza, we conducted a randomized control trial in 60 elementary schools in Cairo, Egypt. Children in the intervention schools were required to wash hands twice each day, and health messages were provided through entertainment activities. Data were collected on student absenteeism and reasons for illness. School nurses collected nasal swabs from students with ILI, which were tested by using a qualitative diagnostic test for influenza A and B. Compared with results for the control group, in the intervention group, overall absences caused by ILI, diarrhea, conjunctivitis, and laboratory-confirmed influenza were reduced by 40%, 30%, 67%, and 50%, respectively (p<0.0001 for each illness). An intensive hand hygiene campaign was effective in reducing absenteeism caused by these illnesses.