From the Guidelines
To prevent the spread of hand, foot, and mouth disease, hand hygiene should be performed after using the toilet, changing diapers, before and after preparing food, before eating, after handling garbage or soiled laundry items, and after touching animals or their feces or environments, especially in public settings such as petting zoos (strong, moderate) 1.
Key Precautions
- Hand hygiene with soap and water, or alcohol-based sanitizers should be followed in the care of people with diarrhea, which can be applicable to hand, foot, and mouth disease as well 1.
- Infection control measures including use of gloves and gowns should be considered in the care of people with hand, foot, and mouth disease, especially in healthcare settings 1.
- Appropriate food safety practices are recommended to avoid cross-contamination of other foods or cooking surfaces and utensils during grocery shopping, food preparation, and storage 1.
Additional Measures
- Ill people with hand, foot, and mouth disease should avoid swimming, water-related activities, and close contact with other people when symptomatic while adhering to meticulous hand hygiene 1.
- Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces and soiled items, including toys, can help prevent the spread of the disease.
- Avoiding close contact with infected individuals, including kissing, hugging, and sharing utensils or cups, can also help prevent the spread of hand, foot, and mouth disease.
From the Research
Precautions for Hand Foot and Mouth Disease
- The best methods to prevent the spread of hand-foot-and-mouth disease are handwashing and disinfecting potentially contaminated surfaces and fomites 2.
- Vaccination of susceptible individuals in high-risk areas and good personal hygiene are important preventative measures to combat the disease 3.
- Hand-washing before meals is a protective factor against HFMD, with an odds ratio of 0.3 (95% CI: 0.13-0.70) 4.
- Vaccines able to confer protection against the most common aetiologic agents in a given country have been developed, but simultaneous circulation of more than one causative virus and modification of the molecular epidemiology of infectious agents make preparations based on a single agent relatively inadequate 5.
Key Precautions
- Frequent handwashing with soap and water
- Disinfecting potentially contaminated surfaces and fomites
- Vaccination of susceptible individuals in high-risk areas
- Good personal hygiene
- Avoiding close contact with individuals who have HFMD