New Pediatrician Guidelines On Kids, Germs And How To Prevent Illness

As Boston heads into cold weather and flu season, the American Academy of Pediatrics is out with new guidelines on what pediatricians' offices should do to prevent and control infections.

The new guidelines, out Monday, include items like diligent hand washing, and asking anyone who treats your kids if they've washed their hands too.

"Hand hygiene is the single most important act you can do to prevent transmission of infection," says professor Mobeen Rathore, a lead author of the new guidelines.

The new guidelines also call for mandatory flu vaccines for health care providers.

"I think the best thing that parents can do to advocate for their children in this regard is to ask a pediatric practice when they're coming to enroll: Do you require your staff to be vaccinated against the flu?" says Doctor Ben Kruskal, the chief of infectious disease at Atrius Health.

Carey Goldberg, host of WBUR's CommonHealth blog, which tweets @commonhealth.