Infection Prevention and Control

Infection prevention and control is required to prevent the transmission of communicable diseases in all health care settings. Infection prevention and control demands a basic understanding of the epidemiology of diseases; risk factors that increase patient susceptibility to infection; and the practices, procedures and treatments that may result in infections.

The risk of acquiring a healthcare-associated infection is related to the mode of transmission of the infectious agent (e.g. CDI, SSI, CRE, MRSA, etc.), the type of patient-care activity or procedure being performed and the underlying patient's host defenses. Healthcare workers should be vaccinated against preventable diseases such as hepatitis B. Personnel at risk for exposure to tuberculosis should be screened per recommendations.

• Infection Prevention and Control Guidelines
  Guidelines and recommendations related to infection prevention. HAIs are currently one of the top ten leading causes of death in the United States. Healthcare professionals have an important role in HAI prevention.
  
  
• Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAI)
  HAIs are infections that patients acquire while receiving treatment for medical or surgical conditions. HAIs occur in all settings of care and are associated with a variety of causes.
  About HAIs | Resources | Data and Statistics | Prevention Projects and Partners
  
  
• Infection Control Precautions
  Infection control precautions are a set of standard recommendations used to reduce the risk of transmission of infectious agents from body fluids or environmental surfaces that contain infectious agents.
  Standard Precautions | Contact Precautions | Droplet Precautions | Airborne Precautions | Full Barrier Precautions
  
  
• National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN)
  The National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) is a secure, internet-based surveillance system managed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. NHSN is open to a variety of health care facilities in the United States.
  
  
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for Infection Control
  PPE is specialized clothing or equipment worn to protect against infectious organisms.
  Components | Guidelines and Resources | Obtaining a Disposable Kit
  
  
• Respiratory Protection Program
  The purpose of this program is to ensure that all employees required to wear respiratory protection as a condition of their employment are protected from respiratory hazards through the proper use of respirators.
  Frequently Asked Questions | Program Components | Public Health Template | Clinic Template | OSHA Revised Standards | Voluntary Respirator Use
  
  
• News and Alerts
  Infection Prevention and Control and Healthcare-Associated Infections News and Alerts.

• Cover Your Cough
  Stop the spread of germs that make you and others sick: Cover Your Cough
  Frequently Asked Questions about Respiratory Etiquette | About Using Materials
  


• Hand Hygiene
  Proper hand hygiene may eliminate nearly half of all cases of foodborne illness and significantly reduce the spread of the common cold and flu.
  Soap and Water | Hand Sanitizer | Choosing and Using Soap | Why and When | Teaching Hand Hygiene | For Schools and Child Care | For Food Handlers | For Health Care Professionals | Posters and Print Materials
  
  
• Injection Safety
  Injection safety, or safe injection practices, refers to the measures taken to perform injections in the safest manner possible for patients, health care providers, and others.
  
  
• Infection Control Assessment and Response Program (ICAR)
  The ICAR program provides Healthcare-Associated Infection (HAI) evaluation to Minnesota health care facilities. We can provide health care facilities with the tools and guidance needed to help everyone work together to prevent HAIs.
  
  
• Project Firstline
  Infection prevention and control training and resources for frontline workers.
  
  
• Antimicrobial Resistance and Stewardship
  Information about antimicrobial use and resistance.
  Antimicrobial Use and Resistance Basics | Minnesota Antibiotic Stewardship Data | Antibiotics and Environmental Health | For Health Professionals | For Animal Health Professionals | For Educators