 |
 |
 |
Other Health Topics:
-
Related Topics
-
Go Local
- Services and providers for Infection Control in the U.S.
-
National Institutes of Health
- The primary NIH organization for research on Infection Control is the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Infection Control
Every year, many 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 immunizations
- Using gloves, masks and protective clothing
- Making tissues and hand cleaners available
- Following hospital guidelines when dealing with blood or contaminated items
| Basics | Learn More | Multimedia & Cool Tools |
|---|---|---|
|
||
| Research | Reference Shelf | For You |
|
-
Overviews
- Facts about Infectious Diseases(Infectious Diseases Society of America)
- Protecting Patients(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
-
Latest News
- Single Rooms Becoming the Norm in New Hospitals(08/26/2008, HealthDay)
-
Prevention/Screening
- Hospital Infections: Tips for Reducing Your Risk(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Preventing Infections in the Hospital - What You Can Do(National Patient Safety Foundation) - Links to PDF
-
Specific Conditions
- (Lack of) Universal Precautions(Occupational Safety and Health Administration)
-
Antimicrobial (Antibiotic) Resistance: Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci (VRE)
(National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases)
- Healthcare Wide Hazards: Bloodborne Pathogens(Occupational Safety and Health Administration)
- Infectious Diseases that May Be Acquired in Healthcare Facilities(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Multidrug-Resistant Organisms in Non-Hospital Healthcare Settings(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
-
Related Issues
- Encourage Your Workers to Report Bloodborne Pathogen Exposures(National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health)
- Hand Hygiene Guidelines(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Laundry: Washing Infected Material(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Oral Health: Infection Control for Dentistry(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Patient Safety Threat - Syringe Reuse(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Safety of Injections(World Health Organization) - Links to PDF
- What Is an ID Specialist?(Infectious Diseases Society of America)
-
Clinical Trials
-
ClinicalTrials.gov: Infection Control(National Institutes of Health)
-
ClinicalTrials.gov: Nosocomial (Hospital-Acquired) Infections(National Institutes of Health)
-
ClinicalTrials.gov: Infection Control
-
Journal Articles
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Infectious disease complications of combat-related injuries.
- Article: Risk management of febrile respiratory illness in emergency departments.
- Article: Surgical site infection, preoperative body washing and hair removal.
- Infection Control -- see more articles
-
Organizations
-
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Also available in Spanish
-
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
- World Health Organization
-
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
| Home | Health Topics | Drugs & Supplements | Encyclopedia | Dictionary | News | Directories | Other Resources | |
| Copyright | Privacy | Accessibility | Quality Guidelines U.S. National Library of Medicine, 8600 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20894 National Institutes of Health | Department of Health & Human Services |
Date last updated: 27 August 2008 Topic last reviewed: 13 May 2008 |