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Bacterial Contamination of Children’s Toys in Rural Day Care Centres and Households in South Africa

Author

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  • Solanka Ellen Ledwaba

    (Department of Microbiology, University of Venda, Thohoyandou 0950, South Africa)

  • Piet Becker

    (Research Office, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0028, South Africa)

  • Afsatou Traore-Hoffman

    (Department of Microbiology, University of Venda, Thohoyandou 0950, South Africa)

  • Natasha Potgieter

    (Department of Microbiology, University of Venda, Thohoyandou 0950, South Africa)

Abstract

Background: Young children exhibit a high susceptibility to several diarrhoea-causing bacterial microorganisms. In this study, the prevalence of fecal contamination on children’s toys was determined using total coliform and E. coli as bacterial fecal indicators. The prevalence of diarrhoeagenic E. coli strains were used as an indication of the potential health risks. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out for 3 months in rural communities in the Vhembe district, Limpopo province of South Africa. Nonporous plastic toys (n = 137) used by children under 5 years of age in households and day care centres (DCCs) from rural villages were collected for assessment. New toys (n = 109) were provided to the households and DCCs and collected again after 4 weeks. Microbiological assessment was carried out using the Colilert ® Quanti-Tray/2000 system. Diarrhoeagenic E. coli strains were identified using a published multiplex PCR protocol. Results: Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) conditions of the children in the households and DCCs were assessed. Statistical analysis was used to identify the relationship between fecal contamination of the existing and introduced toys. All the existing and introduced toy samples, both from DCCs and households, tested positive for total coliform counts and 61 existing and introduced toy samples tested positive for E. coli counts. Diarrhoeagenic E. coli strains identified included EHEC, ETEC, EPEC, EIEC and EAEC. Conclusions: The results indicated that water, sanitation and hygiene conditions could be responsible in the contamination of children’s toys and the transmission of diarrhoea to young children.

Suggested Citation

  • Solanka Ellen Ledwaba & Piet Becker & Afsatou Traore-Hoffman & Natasha Potgieter, 2019. "Bacterial Contamination of Children’s Toys in Rural Day Care Centres and Households in South Africa," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(16), pages 1-12, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:16:p:2900-:d:257311
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Holaday, B. & Waugh, G. & Moukaddem, V.E. & West, J. & Harshman, S., 1995. "Fecal contamination in child day care centers: Cloth vs paper diapers," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 85(1), pages 30-33.
    2. Afsatou N. Traoré & Khodani Mulaudzi & Gamuchirai J.E. Chari & Stefan H. Foord & Lutendo S. Mudau & Tobias G. Barnard & Natasha Potgieter, 2016. "The Impact of Human Activities on Microbial Quality of Rivers in the Vhembe District, South Africa," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-13, August.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jong-Myong Park & Joong-Hee Cho & Nam-Soo Jun & Ki-In Bang & Ji-Won Hong, 2022. "Worker Protection Scenarios for General Analytical Testing Facility under Several Infection Propagation Risks: Scoping Review, Epidemiological Model and ISO 31000," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-16, September.
    2. Matthew Ellis & Puspa Raj Pant, 2020. "Global Community Child Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-3, May.

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