ICAR

Contact Info

Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Prevention and Control Division

651-201-5414

Infection Control Resources for Acute Care Settings

Refer to these resources as you address infection prevention and control practices in your facility. The following categories correlate to the ICAR assessment modules.

These resources and web links are provided as references and examples. Their listing does not constitute any official position of the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) or imply endorsement by MDH. Accessing guidance from professional organizations may require membership.

MDH: TEMPLATE: Time Study for Infection Prevention (PDF) | (Word)
Track time spent weekly on infection prevention and control activities
CDC: CDC's Core Infection Prevention and Control Practices for Safe Healthcare Delivery in All Settings
CDC: Infection Control for Healthcare Providers
CDC: HAI Prevention, Control and Outbreak Response for Public Health and Healthcare
CDC: IPC Risk Assessment Spreadsheet (Excel)
CMS: State Operations Manual Appendix W - Survey Protocol, Regulations and Interpretive Guidelines for Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) and Swing-Beds in CAHs (PDF)
CMS: State Operations Manual Appendix A - Survey Protocol, Regulations and Interpretive Guidelines for Hospitals (PDF)
HHS: Guidance Portal: Hospital Infection Control Worksheet
APIC: Implementation Guides

Infection prevention training

CDC: CDC/STRIVE Infection Control Training
CDC TRAIN: Nursing Home Infection Prevention Training
Some resources could be utilized and/or adapted for the acute care setting.
CDC: 2019 Antibiotic Resistance Threats Report
APIC Minnesota: Basic Infection Prevention Course
APIC: Topic-specific infection prevention
SHEA: LearningCE

Surveillance and disease reporting

Staff training

MDH: Project Firstline Training and Resources

Audit tools

MDH: MDH Infection Prevention Audit Tools
Tools to audit compliance with hand hygiene, PPE, wound care, and environmental cleaning and disinfection
MDH: Infection and Antibiotic Use Tracking Tool Instructions (PDF) | Workbook (Excel)
Resource to track resident illnesses and antibiotic use
MDH: Employee Illness Tracking Tool (Excel) | Instructions (PDF)
CDC: Infection Prevention Tools and Resources
CDC: Options for Evaluating Environmental Cleaning

MDH: Enhanced Respiratory Precautions (PDF)
Sign/poster can be used for COVID-positive residents
CDC: Standard Precautions for All Patient Care
CDC: Transmission-Based Precautions
General overview and example signs/posters
CDC: Isolation Precautions Guideline
Summary of recommendations including specific interventions for LTC settings
CDC: Isolation Precautions Appendix A: Type and Duration of Precautions Recommended for Selected Infections and Conditions
Type of precautions to implement (e.g., what PPE to wear) and for how long
- Appendix A Table 2
  What PPE to wear when resident ill or pathogen not confirmed (e.g., diarrhea, rash)

Personal protective equipment (PPE)

CDC: Isolation Precautions Guideline Appendix A: Figure. Example of Safe Donning and Removal of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Sign/poster for how to don and doff PPE

Health care worker safety

MN Department of Labor (DLI): Minnesota OSHA Workplace Safety Consultation
CDC/NIOSH: Healthcare Respiratory Protection Resources
CDC/NIOSH: Fit Test FAQs
OSHA: Hospital Respiratory Protection Program Toolkit (PDF)
U.S. Department of Labor: OSHA 1910.134 - Respiratory Protection

CDC: Considerations for Reducing Risk: Surfaces in Healthcare Facilities
Core components of environmental cleaning and disinfection
CDC: Environmental Infection Control Guidelines
CDC: Training: EVS and the Battle Against Infection
CDC: CDC/STRIVE Infection Control Training: Environmental Cleaning
CDC: How to Read a Disinfectant Label (PDF)
EPA: Selected EPA-Registered Disinfectants
What disinfectants are listed by EPA for specific pathogens
APIC: Environmental Services
Minnesota Hospital Association: Environmental Services Cleaning Guidebook (PDF)
WHO: How to Dilute and Use Bleach (PDF)

CDC: Safe Injection Practices and Your Health
Injection safety general resources
CDC: Injection Safety Resources for Providers
Includes Injection Safety Checklist and other resources/posters for clinicians
CDC: Safe Injection Practices to Prevent Transmission of Infections to Patients
CDC: Preventing Unsafe Injection Practices
CDC: Clinician Brief: Drug Diversion
U.S. Department of Labor: OSHA 1910.1030 - Bloodborne Pathogens
Code of Federal Regulations: 21 CFR 1301.71 Security Requirements Generally
CSTE: Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAI) Drug Diversion Planning and Response Toolkit for State and Local Health Departments (PDF)

MDH: ICAR Infection Prevention Audit Tools
Includes wound care audit tracking tool and wound dressing change observation tool used to conduct audits, record and analyze data, and develop an action plan
MDH wound care webinar recorded on April 20, 2023
- MDH: Slides: Key Infection Prevention Principles During Wound Care (PDF)
- MDH: Key Infection Prevention Principles During Wound Care Transcript (PDF)

MDH: Cleaning Recommendations for Prevention of Infectious Agent Transmission
Learn the best methods for cleaning and disinfecting, refer to laundry section
CDC: Environmental Infection Control Guidelines G. Laundry and Bedding
CDC: Environmental Cleaning in Global Healthcare Settings: Appendix D: Linen and Laundry Management
Best practices for linen and laundry handling

MDH: Antibiotic Resistance and Stewardship for Health Professionals
MDH: Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs (ASP)
About creating an ASP in your facility, including guidelines for acute care and toolkits for long-term care and outpatient clinics
MDH: Minnesota Antibiotic Stewardship Honor Roll
Consider applying for the MDH Honor Roll
CDC: Antibiotic Stewardship Training
Educational resources, continuing education and training opportunities, handouts, and posters
CDC: The Core Elements of Hospital Antibiotic Stewardship Programs Checklist (PDF)
CDC: Implementation of Antibiotic Stewardship Core Elements at Small and Critical Access Hospitals
CDC: Patient Education Resources | Antibiotic Use
Print materials and tools to help patients and residents learn about antibiotic resistance

Pathogen specific

MDH: Health Care: COVID-19
Guidance for reporting, evaluating and testing, and infection prevention and control specific to long-term care and health care facilities and systems
CDC: Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Healthcare Personnel During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic

MDH: Influenza Information for Health Professionals
CDC: Preventing Transmission of Viral Respiratory Pathogens in Healthcare Settings
Infection control measures that should be implemented at the first point of contact with a potentially infected person

MDH: Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile Guidelines and References
C. diff guidelines and references and list of disinfectant products with sporicidal activity against C. diff

MDH: Hepatitis B Information for Health Professionals

CDC: Preventing MDROs
CDC: Infection Control Guidance: Candida auris
CDC: COVID-19 Reverses Progress in Fight Against Antimicrobial Resistance in U.S.
This report highlights the lost progress combating antimicrobial resistance following the COVID-19 pandemic
CDC: 2019 Antibiotic Resistance Threats Report
Provides information on antimicrobial resistance and highlights the emerging areas of concern and additional action needed
CDC: Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) Infection Control
Journal of Fungi: Candida auris: A Review of Recommendations for Detection and Control in Healthcare Settings

Additional topics

MDH: Emergency Preparedness and Response
MDH: Health Care Coalitions
CDC/NIOSH: Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Burn Rate Calculator
Review PPE supply to ensure adequate supply available, consider frequent review of inventory (e.g., daily) when supply demand is high (e.g., outbreak)