TRAINING IN INFECTION CONTROL AND BARRIER PRECAUTIONS

ELEMENT 1: THE RESPONSIBILITY TO ADHERE TO SCIENTIFICALLY ACCEPTED PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES OF INFECTION CONTROL AND TO MONITOR THE PERFORMANCE OF PERSONNEL FOR WHOM THE PROFESSIONAL IS RESPONSIBLE

Upon completion of this module, the learner will be able to:

• Explain the professional’s responsibility to adhere to scientifically accepted infection control practices and define the consequences of failing to do so;
• List nine infection prevention techniques;
• State the benefit to patients and healthcare workers gained by adherence to scientifically accepted principles and practices of infection control;
• Describe the responsibility to monitor the infection control practices of personnel whom the professional directs and recognize the need for intervention when compliance and safety standards are not met.

ELEMENT 2: MECHANISMS OF TRANSMISSION OF PATHOGENIC ORGANISMS IN THE HEALTH CARE SETTING AND STRATEGIES FOR PREVENTION AND CONTROL

Upon completion of this module, the learner will be able to:

• Describe how pathogenic organisms may be spread in the health care setting;
• Identify the factors which influence susceptibility to infection;
• Define strategies to reduce the transmission of pathogenic organisms;
• Describe how infection control concepts are applied in practice.

ELEMENT 3: ENGINEERING AND WORK PRACTICE CONTROLS WHICH REDUCE THE RISK OF PATIENT AND HEALTH CARE WORKER EXPOSURE TO POTENTIALLY INFECTIOUS MATERIAL IN ALL HEALTH CARE SETTINGS

Upon completion of this section, the learner will be able to:

• Define the terms “engineering controls” and “work practice controls”;
• Identify engineering controls and work practice controls which reduce the risk of exposure to infection;
• List exposure prevention strategies;
• Describe patient care procedures and settings that involve an increased risk of exposure to infectious material.

ELEMENT 4: SELECTION AND USE OF PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT WHICH IS DESIGNED TO PREVENT PATIENT & HEALTH CARE WORKER CONTACT WITH POTENTIALLY INFECTIOUS MATERIAL

Upon completion of this module, the learner will be able to:

• Describe circumstances which call for the use of personal protective equipment in order to prevent patient and health care worker contact with potentially infectious material;
• Identify specific personal equipment that is used to protect patients and health care workers from exposure to infectious pathogens.

ELEMENT 5: CREATION AND MAINTENANCE OF A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR PATIENT CARE THROUGH THE APPLICATION OF INFECTION CONTROL PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES FOR CLEANING, DISINFECTION, AND STERILIZATION

Upon completion of this module, the learner will be able to:

• List several methods of reprocessing patient care equipment which will effectively maintain the integrity of the equipment and assure patient safety;
• Define disinfection and sterilization.
• Describe the differences between high level, intermediate level and low level disinfection and identify circumstances where they are appropriately applied.
• Discuss the health care worker's professional responsibility to maintain a safe patient care environment.

ELEMENT 6: PREVENTING AND CONTROLLING INFECTIOUS AND COMMUNICABLE DISEASES IN HEALTH CARE WORKERS

Upon completion of this module, the learner will be able to:

• Recognize the importance of occupational health strategies which are designed to protect both health care workers and patients;
• Identify occupational health strategies for preventing the transmission of bloodborne pathogens and other communicable diseases in health care settings;
• Recognize non-specific disease findings which should prompt evaluation of health care workers;
• Describe approaches to post-exposure management of health care workers who have been exposed to HIV, Hepatitis C Virus or Hepatitis B Virus.