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The Basics

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The Basics

This section covers IPC basics, including standard precautions and transmission-based precautions to protect both nurses and patients.

The Basic Science of Viruses

Explore the structure and composition of a virus. How do viruses work?

Why Does Contact Time Matter for Disinfection?
SARS-CoV-2? COVID-19? What’s the Difference?
What’s a Virus?
How Do Viruses Make You Sick?

The Concept of Infection

The goal of infection control, for any disease, is to keep people from getting sick.

Tips to Reduce Transmission in a Healthcare Setting
What is Project Firstline?
Infection Preventionists Save Lives
The value of infection prevention, 2017
What’s the Goal of Infection Control?
Infection Prevention and Control
What are healthcare-associated infections?
Who are Infection Preventionists?
Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations
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Standard Precautions for All Patient Care
Core Infection Prevention and Control Practices for Safe Healthcare Delivery
Find core infection prevention & control practices for safe healthcare delivery from Project Firstline, a training collaborative from the CDC in partnership with ANA.
Infection prevention and control
CDC/STRIVE Infection Control Training

Controlling the Source of Viruses

Our breath contains a lot of water that can't usually be seen, called respiratory droplets, and can contain virus particles.

What is Source Control?
Why Does Ventilation Matter?
What is Ventilation?
What’s a Respiratory Droplet? Why Does It Matter?
Transmission-Based Precautions

The Spread of Viruses from Surfaces to People

Viruses can spread in various ways through respiratory droplets on surfaces.

Control the Spread of Delta
How Infections Spread
How Do Viruses Spread from Surfaces to People?

Hand Hygiene

Practicing hand hygiene is a simple, but effective way to prevent infections.

Identifying Motivators for Hand Hygiene
Hand Hygiene: Education, Monitoring and Feedback
Clean Hands for Healthcare Personnel
Hand hygiene for all initiative
Clean Hands Count Campaign
Frequent Questions About Hand Hygiene
When & How to Use Hand Sanitizer
Clean Hands Count for Healthcare Providers
Hand Hygiene Guidance
Hand Hygiene Recommendations
Point of Care Cards
Clean Hands Count for Healthcare Providers Factsheet
Hand Hygiene from rubbing to dancing
A Nurse Finds a Simple Answer to a Vexing Question
CDC COVID-19 Prevention Messages
Clean Hands Count
FDA: Safely using hand sanitizer
Do We Really Have to Talk About Hand Hygiene? Again? Yes!

How Viruses Spread

An infection occurs when germs enter the body, increase in number, and cause a reaction.

Healthy Habits to Help Protect Against Flu
How Did the Delta Variant Develop?
Infection Control Actions for Delta
How Can COVID-19 Spread When You Don't Feel Sick?
Why Do Cleaning and Disinfection Matter in Healthcare?
What Do New COVID-19 Strains Mean for Infection Control?
Hazard Recognition
How does COVID-19 spread? A Review
COVID-19 Transmission and Isolation Precautions
Disease Severity & Occupational Health Risk for Nurses Related to COVID-19
How Do Viruses Spread from Surfaces to People?

Environmental Cleaning and Disinfection

Preventing contamination between the environment and patients is critical to breaking the chain of infection.

COVID-19 Resources for Environmental Services
Using a Quality Improvement Approach
Cleaning and Disinfection Strategies
Principles of Infection Transmission
The Importance of Collaboration between Nurses and Environmental Services

Risk Associated with Nonsterile Glove Use

Gloves prevent contamination of healthcare workers’ hands and help reduce transmission of pathogens.

Glove Use Information Leaflet

AGPs

Aerosol Generating Procedures and Risk of Transmission of Acute Respiratory Infections to Healthcare Workers: A Systematic Review

Infection Risks

Learn where germs live in health care
Did you Know? Germs Can Live in Dirt
Did you Know? Germs Can Live in Water
Did you Know? Germs Can Live on High-Touch Surfaces
Did you Know? Germs Can Live on Dry Surfaces
Did you Know? Germs Can Live on Devices
Did you Know? Germs Live on the Skin
Did you Know? Germs Live on Broken Skin
Did you Know? Germs Live in “The Gut”
Did you Know? Germs Can Live in Blood
Did you Know? Germs Live in the Respiratory System
Did you Know? Germs Spread through Touch
Germs Can Live on Devices
Germs Can Live in Dirt
Germs Can Live on Dry Surfaces
Germs Live in Water and On Wet Surfaces
Germs Can Live in Blood
Germs Can Live in The Respiratory System
Germs Live in “The Gut”
Germs Live on the Skin
Learn Where Germs Live in Health Care
Take the Quiz: Fidgeting Felix Gets an IV
Take the Quiz: Diarrhea Dilemma
Recognize Infection Risks in Health Care
Learn to Recognize Infection Risks

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