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Summary
Every year, lives are lost because of the spread of infections in hospitals. Health care workers can take steps to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. These steps are part of infection control.
Proper hand washing is the most effective way to prevent the spread of infections in hospitals. If you are a patient, don't be afraid to remind friends, family and health care providers to wash their hands before getting close to you.
Other steps health care workers can take include:
- Covering coughs and sneezes
- Staying up to date with vaccinations
- Using gloves, masks and protective clothing
- Making tissues and hand cleaners available
- Following hospital guidelines when dealing with blood or contaminated items
- Facts about Infectious Diseases (ID) (Infectious Diseases Society of America)
-
Infection Prevention and You
(Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology)
- PDF
- Tips for Being a Safe Patient (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Related Issues
- First Responders: Encourage Your Workers to Report Bloodborne Pathogen Exposures (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health)
- Hospital-Wide Hazards: Biological Hazards -- Infectious Diseases (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)
- How To Be A Good Visitor During Flu Season (Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology) - PDF
- Infection Control Basics (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Infectious Disease Specialist: What Is an Infectious Disease Specialist? (Infectious Diseases Society of America)
- Safe Injection Practices and Your Health (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Summary of Infection Prevention Practices in Dental Settings: Basic Expectations for Safe Care (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Specifics
- About Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- About Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- About Vancomycin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection Basics (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Central Line-associated Bloodstream Infection (CLABSI) Basics (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs) (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Surgical Site Infection Basics (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Ventilator-associated Pneumonia Basics (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Videos and Tutorials
-
Clean Hands Count
(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Statistics and Research
- Healthcare-Associated Infections HAIs: Reports and Data (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Clinical Trials
-
ClinicalTrials.gov: Cross Infection
(National Institutes of Health)
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Infection Control
(National Institutes of Health)
Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
Patient Handouts
- After an exposure to sharps or body fluids (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Bloodborne pathogens (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Central line infections - hospitals (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Cleaning supplies and equipment (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Cleaning to prevent the spread of germs (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Isolation precautions (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Personal protective equipment (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Preventing infections when visiting someone in the hospital (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Staph infections in the hospital (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish