Infection Control: Practices to Prevent Disease Transmission

Infection control encompasses practices preventing transmission of infectious agents (bacteria, viruses, fungi) between individuals or within the same person, protecting patients, healthcare workers, and the public.

Core Measures

1. Standard Precautions (All Settings)

• Hand Hygiene: Thorough handwashing or alcohol-based sanitizer.
• PPE: Gloves, gowns, masks, eye protection.
• Respiratory Hygiene: Cover coughs/sneezes with tissue/mask.
• Environmental Cleaning: Regular disinfection of surfaces and equipment.

2. Isolation Precautions (Known/Suspected Infection)

• Contact Precautions: Private room, restricted visitors, dedicated equipment for direct/indirect contact infections.
• Airborne Precautions: Negative pressure rooms (AIIRs), respirators, restricted movement for long-distance airborne transmission.
• Droplet Precautions: Private room or 3+ feet separation, source control (masks) for respiratory droplet spread.

3. Antimicrobial Stewardship

Appropriate antibiotic selection, dosing, and duration to prevent resistance.

4. Vaccination & Immunization

Follow recommended schedules for healthcare workers, patients, and the public.

5. Surveillance & Reporting

Ongoing monitoring to detect outbreaks, track trends, and implement controls.

Comprehensive implementation significantly reduces infection risk and improves outcomes.