Introduction

Infection prevention and control play a crucial role in healthcare settings to minimize the transmission of infectious diseases and ensure the safety of patients, healthcare professionals, and visitors. The ATI/HESI curriculum emphasizes the importance of infection control practices, which are based on evidence-based guidelines and regulations established by healthcare organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO). 

Standard Precautions:

Standard precautions are the foundation of infection prevention and control and should be applied to all patients regardless of their diagnosis or infection status.

They include hand hygiene, use of personal protective equipment (PPE), respiratory hygiene/cough etiquette, safe injection practices, safe handling of potentially contaminated equipment or surfaces, and safe handling of linen.

Hand hygiene is the single most important measure for preventing the transmission of healthcare-associated infections. It can be performed using soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

PPE includes gloves, gowns, masks, and eye protection, and should be worn when there is a risk of exposure to blood, bodily fluids, secretions, or excretions.