Basic Infection Control Training Programme

Target Audience

The Basic Infection Control Training Programme is currently being revised, a revised version will be available to members via a password protected page on the IFIC web site.

Announcements regarding this update will be made on the web site and via IFIC social media channels

This program is directed at infection prevention and control professionals and other health professionals who require training in infection prevention and control (IP&C). They include epidemiologists, physicians, resident physicians /junior doctors in training, nurses, dentists, podiatrists, physician assistants (PA), nurse practitioners (NP), health care students, and allied health staff. Various modules may be appropriate for different professionals. The table below provides suggestions regarding appropriate modules.

Module IC Team, Epidemiologists Physicians, PAs, Podiatrists Nurses, NPs Dentists Allied Health* Administrators Health care students*
Overview

X

X

X

X

X

X

X
Patient Safety

X

X

X

X

X

X

X
Risk Management

X

X

X

X

X

X

X
Surveillance

X

X

X

X

X

X
Epidemiology

X

X

X

X

X

X
Audits

X

X

X

X

X

X

X
Antibiotics

X

X

X

X
Outbreak Management

X

X

X
Costs

X

X

X

X

X
Microbiology

X

X

X

X

X
Pathogens

X

X

X

X

X
Hand hygiene

X

X

X

X

X

X

X
Isolation precautions

X

X

X

X

X

X
Dialysis

X
Lower respiratory infections

X
Special populations

X

X

X

X

X
Maternal-child

X

X

X

X
Urinary tract infections

X
Surgical site infections

X

X

X

X
Bloodstream infections

X

X

X
GI infections

X

X

X

X
Housekeeping/laundry

X

X

X

X

X

X
Cleaning

X

X

X

X

X

X

X
Water

X

X

X

X

X

X
Waste

X

X

X

X

X

X

X
Construction

X

X

X

X
Bloodborne pathogens

X

X

X

X

X

X
Occupational health

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

*These groups include various professions or student groups, e.g., respiratory therapy, housekeeping, cardiac technicians, chemists, pharmacists, etc. Determine which additional modules may be appropriate based on the content.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of the course, you will be able to:

  1. Describe history, epidemiology and impact of healthcare-associated infections (HAI).
  2. Explain the roles and functions of Infection Control Committee, infection control physician and infection control nurse/practitioner.
  3. Describe essential components and implementation of an effective IPC program.
  4. Explain how to define HAIs and conduct HAI surveillance.
  5. Describe professional responsibilities in prevention of HAI and how to monitor and assess IPC practices and interventions.
  6. Identify barriers and personal protective equipment (i.e.isolation precautions) and hand hygiene for protection from exposure to potentially contaminated material.
  7. Describe principles of cleaning, disinfection and sterilization and reprocessing equipment.
  8. Define engineering, environmental and work practice controls.
  9. Explain the importance of the environment (water, ventilation, medical waste) in IPC.
  10. Explain how microorganisms are spread and describe the way IPC concepts are applied.
  11. Describe the role of the microbiology laboratory and pathogens important to IPC.
  12. Identify a possible outbreak and initiate a preliminary investigation.
  13. Identify occupational health strategies for preventing the transmission of communicable diseases.

 

CORE ELEMENTS

Element I: Background of infection prevention and control.

  • Overview

 

Element II: Responsibility to adhere to principles and practices of infection prevention and control and to monitor performance.

  • Patient safety
  • Risk management
  • Surveillance
  • Epidemiology
  • Audits
  • Antibiotics
  • Outbreak management
  • Costs

 

Element III: Modes and mechanisms of spread of microorganisms in the health care setting and strategies for prevention and control.

  • Microbiology
  • Pathogens

 

Element IV: Use of engineering and work practice controls to reduce the opportunity for exposure to potentially contaminated material.

  • Hand hygiene
  • Isolation precautions
  • Dialysis
  • Lower respiratory infections
  • Special populations
  • Maternal-child
  • Urinary tract infections
  • Bloodstream infections
  • Surgical site infections
  • Urinary tract infections
  • GI infections

Element V: Creations and maintenance of a safe environment through application of infection prevention and control principles and practices.

  • Housekeeping/laundry
  • Cleaning
  • Water
  • Waste
  • Construction

 

Element VI: Prevention and management of infectious diseases in healthcare workers.

  • Bloodborne pathogens
  • Occupational health

Basic Infection Control Training Programme

Guidelines for Instructors

This course may be taken as a self-study exercise or the materials may be used by an instructor or instructors to teach others. These guidelines are provided as suggestions.

INSTRUCTOR QUALIFICATIONS

Instructors should be recruited and selected to conduct this course based on their working knowledge of the content and skills required for each session. Use the following steps when you prepare for training:

  1. Thoroughly read all materials, including reference material.
  2. Be prepared to answer any questions that the participants may ask.
  3. Tailor each session to your local community. Using local information will add a personal meaning for the participants.
  4. Identify sessions that require you to prepare information or materials that relate specifically to your community. Prepare these items in advance of the session.
  5. Be certain you are aware of any cultural sensitivities for the community in which you will be training. It is important to understand how to best deliver the content so as to engage the participants.
  6. Draft or copy any supplemental materials from which you feel the participants will benefit.
  7. Instructors are encouraged to add pertinent information to the course, but topics should not be deleted.

 

RECOMMENDATIONS

    1. Selection of participants:
      1. The course is oriented to IC professionals that are beginning work in IC programs. Some of the chapters also can be used to train administrators, clinical personnel, residents, junior doctors or students.
      2. Suggestion is to have no more than 40 people in each course.
    2. Distribute hand-outs before course begins: Remember that hand-outs constitute a summary of the lectures which will help the participant follow the presentations and improve comprehension through sighting, hearing and reading. If the material is printed, it is important that the photocopy is of good quality.
    3. Equipment you will need
      1. A computer with PowerPoint software
      2. A computer projector and screen
      3. Flip-chart paper, easel, and markers
    4. Before the course:
      1. Review the teaching materials
      2. Practice examples for the content (it is not good to improvise)
      3. Practice what to say between slides
      4. Verify time: a good standard of quality in a lecture is to respect the planned time
      5. Verify room conditions are appropriate
      6. Room arrangement: This is your choice and, depending on the number of participants, you may opt for different arrangements
    5. During the course
      1. Arrive at least 15-30 minutes before the start time
      2. Verify equipment is available and working
      3. Start on time
      4. Welcome participants
      5. Introduce yourself and provide some background information about your experience in IP&C
      6. Make any pertinent announcements (session times, materials required, toilet locations, smoking policy, emergency exits, requirements for course completion)
    6. During the lecture
      1. Responsibilities of the speaker
        1. Solve conflicts
        2. Look for consensus
        3. Answer questions
        4. Ensure that everybody understands
        5. Facilitate communication
        6. Provide lecture content
        7. Don’t play the role of a comic
      2. Relevant aspects of the speakers
        1. Position: Avoid awkward positions such as not looking at the participants.
        2. Clothing: it is recommended to wear formal or semi-formal clothes. Avoid jeans or sport shoes.
        3. Language: Must be comprehensive, avoiding popular expressions.
    7. At the end of the course:
      1. Distribute and collect evaluations from all participants.
      2. Analyse the results of the evaluations and determine which may improve future courses.

Time Requirements/Formats

Course work can be completed in a single session or in divided time slots to meet the course provider’s needs. The format for the delivery of this program is not specified, allowing the course providers freedom in reaching their audience.

For distant or e-learning

If distance-learning methods are used, the course provider must be able to provide participants with direct answers to questions they may have as a result of the program offering.

1- A forum must be established

2- E-mailing would be of help

Basic Infection Control Training

Basic Outline

Element I: Background of infection prevention and control (IP&C)

In this element you will learn about:

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

Upon completion of course work or training on this element, the learner will be able to:

  1. Outline the history of infection prevention and control.
  2. Describe the goals of infection prevention and control programs.
  3. Discuss how an IP&C program can make a positive impact in any healthcare organisation.
  4. Describe how the infection prevention and control is organised in health care.
  5. List the members of an infection control team.
  6. Outline the topics contained in a typical infection control manual.

ESTIMATED COMPLETION TIME: 1.5 hours

CONTENT OUTLINE:

  1. History and overview
    • What is IP&C
    • Why is IP&C important
    • History of IP&C
    • Healthcare-associated Infections
    • Goals
    • Functions
    • Practices today
  2. IP&C Organisation
    • National and health care programs
    • Infection Control Committees
    • Infection Control Team
    • IC Officer/Doctor
    • IC Nurse
    • IC Link Nurse
    • IC Manual

 

Element II: Responsibility to adhere to principles and practices of infection prevention and control and to monitor performance.

In this element you will learn about:

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

Upon completion of course work or training on this element, the learner will be able to:

  1. Describe the role of IP&C in patient safety programmes.
  2. List at least eight main elements of patient safety culture.
  3. For each element of patient safety culture, give at least one practical strategy for the IP&C professional.
  4. Identify the four stages of risk management for IP&C.
  5. Develop a system for setting priorities for action based on risk management.
  6. Explain the purpose or aims of surveillance.
  7. Discuss how to establish a system for healthcare-associated infection (HAI) surveillance.
  8. Differentiate between continuous surveillance and periodic prevalence surveys.
  9. Describe the epidemiology of HAIs.
  10. Summarise how agent, host and environmental factors affect the occurrence of HAIs.
  11. Outline the types of epidemiologic studies that can be used in HAI epidemiology.
  12. Explain the relevance of audit in IP&C practice.
  13. Identify audit tools and methods.
  14. Describe the main principles of audits.
  15. Explain how antibiotic use can select resistant strains of bacteria.
  16. Identify important mechanisms used by antibiotic stewardship programmes to decrease bacterial resistance in hospitals.
  17. Describe the roles of the microbiology laboratory and IP&C staff in the containment of bacterial resistance in healthcare.
  18. Participate in the formation of an antibiotic stewardship programme.
  19. Describe the occurrence of disease in a population.
  20. Discuss how an epidemic curve can help in managing an outbreak.
  21. Outline the steps in outbreak investigation.
  22. Describe the financial impact that HAIs have on individuals and organisations.
  23. Outline the types of costs associated with HAIs.

ESTIMATED COMPLETION TIME: 6 hours

CONTENT OUTLINE:

  1. Microbiology (Français)

    1. Pathogenesis
    2. Transmission
    3. Bacteria
    4. Fungi
    5. Viruses
    6. Prions
    7. Parasites
    8. Laboratory role
    9. Microbiology services
    10. Diagnosis of infection
    11. Prevention and control of HAIs
    12. Outbreak investigation
    13. Surveillance
    14. Antibiotic policy, stewardship
    15. Interpreting data
    16. Education
  2. Pathogens
    1. Special pathogens
    2. M. tuberculosis
      1. Transmission, pathogenesis
      2. Risk factors
      3. Management
      4. Control measures
    3. C. difficile
      1. Pathology
      2. Colonisation, transmission
      3. Control measures
    4. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus
      1. Transmission
      2. Control measures
    5. Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus
      1. Epidemiology
      2. Transmission
      3. Control measures
    6. Multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria
      1. Resistance mechanisms
      2. Epidemiology
      3. Transmission
      4. Control measures

 

Element IV: Use of engineering and work practice controls and preventive practices to reduce the opportunity for exposure to potentially contaminated material and infected patients.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Upon completion of course work or training on this element, the learner will be able to:

      1. Describe the relevance of hand hygiene for IP&C.
      2. Discuss strategies to improve hand hygiene compliance.
      3. Compare products available for hand hygiene.
      4. Explain current recommendations on hand hygiene practice.
      5. Explain the rationale for isolation precautions.
      6. Outline the types and indications of isolation precautions.
      7. List the types of personal protective equipment used in isolation precautions.
      8. Summarise the functioning of peritoneal dialysis (PD) and haemodialysis (HD).
      9. Review infection risks associated with PD and HD procedures.
      10. Design infection prevention and control measures for PD and HD patients.
      11. Explain the relevance of pneumonia in health care institutions.
      12. Outline elements for defining HAI pneumonia.
      13. Identify risk factors for pneumonia.
      14. Describe the measures for prevention of pneumonia.
      15. Identify special populations and their specific features
      16. Describe specific risk factors of each special population that make it vulnerable to HAIs.
      17. For any special population, outline additional methods for the prevention of HAIs.
      18. Describe the role of infection prevention and control in maternal child health.
      19. Identify potential infection risks in this setting.
      20. Explain practices for prevention and control of infection for these patients.
      21. Describe the relevance of urinary tract infections in health care institutions.
      22. Identify risk factors for urinary tract infections.
      23. Describe measures for prevention.
      24. Describe the relevance and impact of intravascular device-associated infections.
      25. Identify infection sources and routes of transmission for intravascular infections.
      26. Outline the main recommendations to prevent those infections.
      27. Explain the relevance and impact of SSI.
      28. Identify the risk factors associated with SSI.
      29. Describe the main recommendations to prevent SSI.
      30. List the types of microorganisms that can cause gastrointestinal infections (GI) associated with health care facilities.
      31. Define diarrhoea.
      32. Identify risk factors for GI infections.
      33. Outline methods to prevent GI infections.

ESTIMATED COMPLETION TIME: 7.5 hours

CONTENT OUTLINE:

      1. Hand hygiene
        1. Background
        2. Skin flora
        3. Hand contamination
        4. Compliance
        5. Products, selection
        6. Techniques
        7. When to perform
        8. Glove use
        9. Skin care
        10. Improvement strategies
        11. Guidelines
        12. Recommendations
      2. Isolation precautions
        1. Transmission of infections
        2. Principles
        3. Standard precautions
        4. Transmission-based precautions
        5. Essential components
        6. Considerations
        7. Recommendations
        8. Guidelines
      3. Dialysis
        1. Background
        2. Peritoneal dialysis
        3. Haemodialysis
        4. Definitions
        5. Transmission of infection
        6. Diagnosis
        7. Infection risks
        8. IP&C principles
        9. Prevention
      4. Lower respiratory infections
        1. Background
        2. Diagnosis
        3. Surveillance
        4. Ventilation
        5. Pathogenesis
        6. Risk factors
        7. Agents
        8. Prevention
      5. Special populations
        1. IP&C strategies
        2. Geriatrics
          1. Risk factors
          2. Prevention
        3. Paediatrics
          1. Risk factors
          2. Prevention
        4. Burns
        5. Behavioural health
          1. Risks
          2. Prevention
        6. Ambulatory/community health
          1. Risks
          2. Prevention
        7. Immunocompromised populations
          1. Risks
          2. Prevention
        8. Endoscopy
          1. Risks
          2. Endoscopes
          3. Prevention
      6. Maternal-child
        1. Background
        2. Neonatal risk factors
        3. Neonatal/infant infections
        4. Maternal risk factors
        5. Maternal infections
        6. Prevention strategies
        7. Infectious disease management
      7. Urinary tract infections
        1. Introduction
        2. Diagnosis
        3. Microbiology
        4. Surveillance
        5. Pathogenesis
        6. Prevention
      8. Bloodstream infections
        1. Introduction
        2. Contamination sites
        3. Transmission
        4. Peripheral site prevention
        5. Central site prevention
      9. Surgical site infections
        1. Background
        2. Transmission
        3. Patient risk factors
        4. Operative risk factors
        5. Environmental risk factors
        6. Surveillance
        7. Risk stratification
        8. Prevention
      10. GI infections
        1. Definitions
        2. Foodborne outbreaks
        3. Gastroenteritis
        4. Prevention
        5. C. difficile
        6. Food hygiene
        7. Hazard analysis critical control points
        8. Kitchen precautions
        9. Audits

 

Element V: Creation and maintenance of a safe environment through application of infection prevention and control principles and practices.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
At the conclusion of course work or training on this element, the learner will be able to:

      • Identify the role of infection prevention and control in environmental services, housekeeping, and laundry settings.
      • Outline the role of chemicals, training, and work practices in IP&C.
      • Explain the importance of the environment in IP&C.
      • Differentiate between disinfection and sterilisation.
      • Explain different types of sterilisation.
      • Outline the process for cleaning patient care items.
      • Describe the role of IP&C in water hygiene.
      • Identify different methods to make water safe for health care use.
      • Explain the importance of the safe water in IP&C.
      • Describe the various types of waste in health care.
      • Outline the sources that result in health-care waste.
      • Segregate the healthcare waste appropriately.
      • List the options for waste treatment.
      • Describe the role of IP&C in construction/renovation projects.
      • Define engineering, environmental and work practice controls.
      • Explain the importance of the environment in IP&C.
      • Identify potential building-related infection risks.

ESTIMATED COMPLETION TIME: 4.5 hours

CONTENT OUTLINE:

      1. Housekeeping/laundry
        1. Sources of infection
        2. The environment
        3. Cleaning
        4. Disinfection
        5. Cleaning schedule
        6. Laundry services
        7. Sorting linen
        8. Linen transport
        9. Washing linen
        10. Storage and packaging
        11. Role of IP&C
      2. Cleaning, disinfection, sterilisation
        1. Decontamination
        2. Cleaning
        3. Spaulding classification
        4. Disinfection
          1. High-level
          2. Intermediate-level
          3. Low-level
          4. Types of disinfectants
        5. Sterilisation
          1. Steam
          2. Low temperature
          3. Flash
          4. Dry heat
          5. Ethylene oxide
          6. Gas plasma
        6. Fumigation
        7. Pasteurisation
        8. Filtration
        9. Other processing method
        10. Monitoring
          1. Chemical
          2. Biological
        11. Staff training
        12. Single use items
        13. IP&C priorities
      3. Water hygiene
        1. Background
        2. Illnesses related to water
        3. Health care water
        4. Biofilm
        5. Safe water
          1. Boiling
          2. Chlorination
          3. Filtration
        6. Storage
        7. Plumbing
        8. Dialysis water
        9. Prevention
        10. Water analysis
        11. Legionella
        12. IP&C activities
      4. Waste Management
        1. Definitions
          • Sources
          • Collection
          • Containers
          • Transport
          • Storage
          • Treatment
          • Disposal
          • Training
      5. Construction
        1. Infection risks
        2. Transmission
        3. Design issues
          1. Rooms
          2. Hand hygiene
          3. Floors and surfaces
          4. Utilities
          5. Ventilation
        4. Barrier use
        5. Medical equipment
        6. Food, laundry, waste
        7. IP&C team
        8. Recommendations
            1. Design of a general ward
            2. Protection of immunocompromised patients during building work
            3. Emergency Unit
            4. Design of Intensive Care Units
            5. Design of a surgery block
            6. Ventilation to prevent airborne transmission

 

Element VI: Prevention and management of infectious diseases in healthcare workers.

      • Bloodborne pathogens
      • Occupational health

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Upon completion of course work or training on this element, the learner will be able to:

      1. List causes of bloodborne pathogen infections.
      2. Outline risk reduction measures for healthcare workers.
      3. Identify methods for reducing risk of bloodborne infections in patients.
      4. Recognize infection health hazards for healthcare workers.
      5. Explain the use of an occupational infection risk evaluation.
      6. Outline methods of reducing occupational risk of infection for healthcare workers.

ESTIMATED COMPLETION TIME: 1.5 hours

CONTENT OUTLINE:

    1. Bloodborne

      1. Viruses
      2. Healthcare worker exposures
      3. Patient exposures
      4. Risk reduction
        1. Safety devices
        2. Containers
        3. Personal protective equipment
        4. Injection safety
      5. Monitoring
      6. Prevention
      7. Recommendations
      8. Patient risk reduction
    2. Occupational Health
      1. Health hazards
      2. Elements
      3. Assessments
      4. Infection risks
      5. Risk evaluations
      6. Risk reduction
      7. Needle-stick injuries
      8. Blood-borne pathogens
      9. Tuberculosis

Information

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