Introduction: Because of close contacts, pathogen microorganisms can spread easily among nursery school children, due to their not fully developed immune system. Therefore, it is very important to consistently follow hygiene measures among professional workers and children. Purpose: To analyse the chosen hygiene-technical criteria in the Children day care centre Lendava, focusing on the suitability of personal clothing which professional workers use in the day care process. Methods: A combined methodological approach was used. In the first phase of research we analysed the hygiene-technical suitability of the work process focusing on the suitability of professional workers’ clothing by means of an observation list in two age groups of the discussed children day care centre. The second phase of the research consists of a qualitative content analysis of structured interviews that were carried out with professional workers during the observation period with the goal of gathering information about the importance of wearing and maintaining the clothing used at work. Then we took samples using the method of wet sponge swab on specified areas and determined which areas of personal clothing of professional workers are most exposed and microbiologically contaminated and could present a risk of infecting the children. Results: It is important to acknowledge and to pay more attention to maintaining a general health-hygiene regime, as the chain of transmitting infections can be broken this way. Good communication between the head of institution and employees is essential in completing this goal. The results of the employee clothing swab test show that the most exposed and microbiologically contaminated area on the clothing of professional workers is the waist area. On the surface of the personal clothing and the apron for feeding, potential pathogenic representatives of enterobacteria and staphylococci were found. The average total number of anaerobic mesophilic microorganisms was the highest in the waist area (3,2 × 102 CFU/100 cm2 ), we measured the number 2,5 × 102 CFU/100 cm2 in the shoulder area, and only 56 CFU/100 cm2 on the feeding apron. Escherichia coli was present in 8,8% and fungi in 62,5% of all samples taken. The differences in the number of organisms in samples taken in the beginning and at the end of the week were not statistically significant. Discussion and conclusion: To contain contagious diseases in the environment of day care centres it is important to carry out a stricter hygiene regime. The most important measures to improve the current state include educating the employees, and addressing the importance of employees and children consistently following the hygiene measures. More efficient communication between the head of institution and professional workers needs to be established.
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