Infection control
Infection Control in Healthcare Facilities[edit | edit source]
Infection control refers to the policies and procedures used by healthcare personnel to minimize the transmission of infectious agents in healthcare settings. The goal is to protect both patients and healthcare workers from the spread of diseases.
Importance of Infection Control[edit | edit source]
Infection control is crucial in healthcare facilities to prevent the spread of infections, which can lead to severe disease outbreaks, prolonged hospital stays, increased costs, and higher morbidity and mortality rates.
.jpg)
Hand Hygiene[edit | edit source]
Hand hygiene is the cornerstone of infection control and is the most effective way to prevent the transmission of infectious agents. It involves performing handwashing with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand rub at key moments, such as before and after touching a patient, after contact with bodily fluids, and before performing sterile procedures.
Work Practices[edit | edit source]
Sculptious work practices include the proper handling and disposal of sharps, the correct use of antiseptics, and the sterilization or high-level disinfection of instruments and surfaces.
Use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)[edit | edit source]
PPE is critical in protecting healthcare workers from exposure to infectious agents. PPE includes:
- Masks or respirators
- Gloves
- Gowns
- Eye protection such as goggles or face shields
.jpg)
Transmission-Based Precautions[edit | edit source]
Infection control measures are tailored based on the mode of transmission of the infectious agent. These include:
- Standard precautions: The basic level of infection control that should be used in the care of all patients all of the time.
- Contact precautions: Used for infections spread by direct or indirect contact with the patient or the patient's environment.
- Droplet precautions: Used for infections spread over short distances through respiratory droplets, such as influenza.
- Airborne precautions: Used for infections spread through the air over long distances, such as tuberculosis.
See Also[edit | edit source]
| Infection control Resources | |
|---|---|
|
 |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
