Sponges, mops

Question

Hello,
What are the hygienic precautions for the sponges and the mops when we are invited with friends / family? Can we touch a sponge? Can we use a mop in the room where our child is? Do we have to wash our hands after contact with these objects? How to explain our friends that it is dangerous for our child? Many people think we take too many hygienic precautions, that there is no stagnant water at home and that a sponge is not "dangerous" ... If a friend touches a sponge (not necessarily a clean one) and then touches my son, may he be contaminated by pseudomonas? Or should he be himself in contact? The daily hygienic with a CF child is difficult because it is difficult to find the balance between: "he must have a normal life, do not overprotect" and "take care to stagnant water, sponges, sick people, vases, epidemics in winter ....»: what is really dangerous and what is less!
Thank you

Answer

Many issues relating to hygiene reflect the difficulty to find a balance in this area and to make informed choices in daily life. Prior to answer your questions, here is a first general approach to hygienic and some important points. Germs are everywhere in the environment and it is unrealistic to expect to control everything. It is likely that your son has been in contact with germs in his environment. The moment of infection is random and most often its origin is unknown. There are no studies about hygienic measures at home who would prevent bacterial infection in cystic fibrosis. However, to know the risk behaviors and the risk areas can contribute to act in daily life and to evaluate the risks in a situation and to make advised choices.
But zero risk does not exist. Studies have shown that an excess of daily hygiene can be deleterious to the bronchi, because of toxic substances that are released from household products and can create inflammation of the bronchi.
Your child also needs to live in an environment conducive to his psychosocial development.
An excessive attitude about the hygiene measures can affect the quality of life and can stigmatize your child. So you have to find a balance with all this information.
What should be avoided: everyday living in an unhealthy environment, or at the opposite, in an environment with excessive and obsessive hygiene measures, avoid being present when demolition or repairing floors and tapestry. Avoid contact with people who have colds or the flu.
What should be done: have basic hygiene measures, with a particular attention to the bathroom and kitchen, ventilate the house 10 minutes a day, wash your hands several times a day.
Now, lighting on your specific questions: The risk associated with the sponge used by your friend seems minimal and it seems to be excessive, to ask her to wash her hands or do not touch your son after use.
To clean the floor with the mop, it is preferable to avoid the presence of your child. The household products release toxic substances that pollute the air at home. Ventilate your home or rinse the floor with water. The opportunity to meet this situation with your son and not be able to avoid it, will arrive (ex shopping center), the risk would be minimal for your son.
For the vases put a few drops of bleach in the water. It seems exaggerated and unjustified to require this among others (if your child does not play with the vase water, the risk is very low).
You do your best, but do not hesitate to get help to think about hygiene situations in terms of risk / benefit and talk about your fears at the CF centre.
Best regards
Marythé Kerbrat

02.05.2013