Infection Prevention and Control
Infection prevention and control is required to prevent the transmission of communicable diseases in all health care settings. Infection prevention and control demands a basic understanding of the epidemiology of diseases; risk factors that increase patient susceptibility to infection; and the practices, procedures and treatments that may result in infections.
The risk of acquiring a healthcare-associated infection is related to the mode of transmission of the infectious agent (e.g. CDI, SSI, CRE, MRSA, etc.), the type of patient-care activity or procedure being performed and the underlying patient’s host defenses. Healthcare workers should be vaccinated against preventable diseases such as hepatitis B. Personnel at risk for exposure to tuberculosis should be screened per recommendations.
- News and Alerts
News relases, memos, and health alerts about infection prevention and control issues.
- Infection Prevention and Control Guidelines
Guidelines and recommendations related to infection prevention. HAIs are currently one of the top ten leading causes of death in the United States. Healthcare professionals have an important role in HAI prevention.
- Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAI)
Healthcare-associated infections are infections that patients acquire while receiving treatment for medical or surgical conditions. HAI occur in all settings of care and are associated with a variety of causes.
About HAI | Resources | Data and Statistics | Prevention Projects and Partners
- Infection Control Precautions
Infection control precautions are a set of standard recommendations used to reduce the risk of transmission of infectious agents from body fluids or environmental surfaces that contain infectious agents.
Standard Precautions | Contact Precautions | Droplet Precautions | Airborne Precautions | Full Barrier Precautions
- National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN)
The National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) is a secure, internet-based surveillance system managed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. NHSN is open to a variety of healthcare facilities in the United States.
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for Infection Control
PPE is specialized clothing or equipment worn to protect against infectious organisms.
Components | Guidelines and Resources | Obtaining a Disposable Kit | Full Barrier with N95 | Full Barrier with PAPR
- Respiratory Protection Program
The purpose of this program is to ensure that all employees required to wear respiratory protection as a condition of their employment are protected from respiratory hazards through the proper use of respirators.
Frequently Asked Questions | Program Components | Public Health Template | Clinic Template | OSHA Revised Standards | Voluntary Respirator Use
- Infection Prevention and Control Information For Public Safety Personnel
Infection prevention resources for public safety personnel (fire and police) that may come into contact with persons who are known or suspected to have communicable infectious diseases.
Avian Influenza | Meningococcal Disease | Pertussis | Prophylaxis | Tuberculosis | Updates to the IQ Law | EMS Personnel Exposure Law
- Cover Your Cough
Stop the spread of germs that make you and others sick: Cover Your Cough
Frequently Asked Questions | Schools, Childcare, and the Community | Health Care Facilities | All Print Materials | About CYC
- Hand Hygiene
Proper hand hygiene may eliminate nearly half of all cases of foodborne illness and significantly reduce the spread of the common cold and flu.
Soap and Water | Hand Sanitizer | Choosing and Using Soap | Why and When | Teaching Hand Hygiene | For Schools and Child Care | For Food Handlers | For Health Care Professionals| Statistics | Posters and Print Materials
Spotlight
Hand Hygiene
Information about washing/cleaning your hands.
Cover Your Cough Poster for the Community
Stop! Protect Our Patients/Residents Posters
Posters to be posted in clinics and hospitals or residential facilities and long term care facilities asking ill people not to visit.
If you have questions or comments about this page, use our IDEPC Comment Form or call 651-201-5414 for the MDH Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Prevention and Control Division.
