The Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAI) Resources and Tools hub provides information on preventing and managing HAIs. Rooted in Core Infection Prevention Practice, the following guidelines and tools ensure a safe environment for patients and healthcare professionals.
Topics
Core Infection Prevention Practices
Standard Precautions | Environmental Cleaning | Hand Hygiene | Injection Safety | Personal Protective Equipment | Respiratory Protection | Transmission Based Precautions | Ventilation | Testing
Tools by Setting
Adult Family Homes | Ambulatory/Outpatient | Dental | Dialysis | Home Health | Hospitals | Skilled Nursing Facilities
Helpful Links
- Respiratory Virus Infection Prevention in Healthcare Settings
- All-In-One Infection Prevention Resource (PDF)
- Targeted Multidrug-resistant Organism (MDRO) Response Toolkit
Core Infection Prevention Practices
The implementation of infection prevention practices is crucial to ensure the safety and well-being of both patients and healthcare providers. Core Infection Prevention Practices serve as the cornerstone in this mission, establishing a foundation for maintaining a clean and safe healthcare environment.
CDC Core Infection Prevention and Control Practices for Safe Healthcare Delivery in All Settings
Standard Precautions
Standard Precautions are the basic practices that apply to all patient care, regardless of the patient’s suspected or confirmed infectious state, and apply to all settings where care is delivered.
- Standard Precautions and Transmission-Based Precautions
- CDC Standard Precautions for All Patient Care
Environmental Cleaning
Regular and thorough cleaning of healthcare environments is necessary to reduce potential sources of infection. Cleaning and disinfection protocols for surfaces, equipment, and shared spaces contribute significantly to reducing the risk of HAIs.
- Environmental Cleaning Resource for Healthcare Settings During Norovirus Outbreaks (PDF)
- CDC Environmental Cleaning Procedures
- EPA Selected Registered Disinfectants
- CDC How to Read a Disinfectant Label (PDF)
- DOH WSHA Enhanced Disinfection Required Sign (PDF)
Hand Hygiene
Proper hand hygiene remains the simplest yet most effective measure in preventing the spread of infections. Healthcare professionals should follow handwashing protocols, using soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizers, to minimize the risk of transmitting pathogens.
- Hand hygiene (washing) (PDF)
- Hand hygiene (sanitizer) (PDF)
- CDC Hand Hygiene in Healthcare Settings
- CDC Clinical Safety: Hand Hygiene for Healthcare Workers
- CDC Hand Hygiene Frequently Asked Questions
- Make Hygiene a Habit Pocket Aid (PDF)
Injection Safety
Ensuring the safe administration of injections is vital in preventing the transmission of bloodborne pathogens. Healthcare providers should use aseptic techniques, dispose of needles properly, and not reuse needles and syringes.
- CDC Injection Safety
- CDC Preventing Unsafe Injection Practices
- CDC Safe Injection Practices and Your Health
- WHO Injection Safety
- WAC 296-823: Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens
- Safe Injection Steps Pocket Aid (PDF)
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
The appropriate use of PPE, such as gloves, masks, gowns, and eye protection, is fundamental in preventing the transmission of infectious agents. Adhering to guidelines on PPE selection and usage ensures that healthcare personnel can provide care while minimizing exposure.
- PPE donning, and doffing (PDF)
- PPE for Visitors (PDF)
- CDC Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Coaching and Training Frontline Health Care Professionals
- WHO What is PPE?
- CDC Use PPE when caring for patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19
- CDC Science Blog: The Physiological Burden of Prolonged PPE Use during Long Shifts
- WAC 296-800-160 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- CDC Conserving Supplies of PPE in Healthcare Facilities during Shortages
Healthy Habits When Coughing and Sneezing
The following guidelines, like wearing masks and practicing healthy habits when coughing and sneezing, help prevent respiratory infections from spreading. Encouraging patients and healthcare workers to practice good respiratory hygiene helps prevent the spread of respiratory infections. This includes covering the mouth and nose with tissues or elbows when coughing or sneezing and proper disposal of tissues.
- Cover Your Cough (PDF)
- Preventing Transmission of Viral Respiratory Pathogens in Healthcare Settings
Respiratory Protection
In addition to practicing healthy habits when coughing and sneezing, healthcare workers should wear proper respiratory protection (i.e., respirators) when respiratory hazards are present.
Testing
There are a variety of tests for community-associated and healthcare-associated infections, including novel and antimicrobial-resistant organisms.
- CDC Clinical Testing and Diagnosis for CDI
- CDC Laboratory Testing for Methicillin (oxacillin)-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
- CDC Antimicrobial Resistance & Patient Safety Portal
- CDC Guidance for SARS-CoV-2 Rapid Testing Performed in Point-of-Care Settings
- Influenza
- Notifiable Conditions Surveillance and Reporting
Transmission-Based Precautions
Transmission-based precautions are the second tier of basic infection control. They are used in addition to standard precautions for patients who may be infected or colonized with certain infectious agents. These extra precautions prevent the spread of infections.
- CDC Infection Control Basics
- CDC Isolation Precautions Guideline
- Standard Precautions and Transmission-Based Precautions
- Quarantine Precautions Sign (PDF)
- Visiting Patients with Infectious Diseases (PDF)
- Guide for Visiting Patients in Precautions Rooms (PDF)
Ventilation
Good ventilation is key to reducing the concentration of airborne germs. Ensuring that healthcare spaces have proper airflow helps maintain a healthy environment.
- American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) resources for healthcare facilities, which also provides COVID-19 technical resources for healthcare facilities
- CDC Ventilation in Buildings
- Cooling Indoor Spaces Without Air Conditioning (PDF)
- Ventilation and Air Quality for Reducing Transmission of Airborne Illnesses (PDF)
- EPA Clean Air in Buildings Challenge
Tools by Setting
Tailored for the diverse needs of healthcare settings, this section provides additional resources for specific healthcare settings. Each link offers specialized guidance crafted to address the unique challenges faced in these settings. These curated tools aim to empower professionals with precise, practical support, fostering a culture of infection prevention that addresses the specific challenges of each healthcare environment.
Explore the resources within this section to access targeted information, enhancing your ability to create and maintain safe, clean, and healthy environments.
Adult Family Homes
- Managing Residents with Targeted Multidrug-Resistant Organisms (MDROs) in Licensed Family Homes
Guidance for Public Health (PDF) - Managing Residents with Targeted Multidrug-Resistant Organisms (MDROs) in Licensed Family Homes
Guidance for Facility Owners and Staff (PDF) - Personal Protective Equipment and Respiratory Safety in Adult Family Homes Toolkit (PDF)
- Standard Precautions Table for Adult Family Homes (PDF)
- Spanish | Russian | Somali | Ukrainian | Vietnamese
- Standard Precautions Table for Adult Family Homes (PDF, with QR codes, for print)
- Adult Family Home Epidemic Preparedness Tool (PDF)
Ambulatory/Outpatient
- Infection Prevention Recommendations for Carbapenemase-Producing Organisms and Candida auris in Outpatient Settings (PDF)
- Bree Outpatient Infection Control Report and Guidelines
- Resources for Outpatient Clinics
- CMS Memorandum Infection Control Surveyor Worksheet Revisions 2015
- CDC Guide to Infection Prevention for Outpatient Settings: Minimum Expectations for Safe Care
- CDC Infection Prevention For Outpatient Settings Minimum Expectations for Safe Care
Dental
- CDC Disinfection and Sterilization Guideline
- CDC Summary of Infection Prevention Practices in Dental Settings: Basic Expectations for Safe Care
- CDC Infection Prevention Checklist for Dental Settings
- CDC Oral Health in Healthcare Settings to Prevent Pneumonia Toolkit
- ADA Dental Unit Water Lines
- FDA Dental Unit Waterlines
- DOH Resources for Dental Clinics
- DOH Dental Infection Control
- CDC HAI Outbreak Investigations Toolkit
Dialysis
Home Health
- APIC-HICPAC Surveillance Definitions for Home Health Care and Home Hospice Infections
- Bag technique: Preventing and Controlling Infections in Home Care and Hospice
- CMS Report on Hospital at Home Initiative
- Home Care Infection Prevention and Control Resources | The Joint Commission
- NIOSH Fast Facts - Home Healthcare Workers
Hospitals
- Neutropenic Precautions Sign (PDF)
- CDC Hospital Sepsis Program Core Elements
- Risk Assessment Pathogens of Epidemiological Concern (PEC) (PDF)
- Pathogens of Epidemiological Concern (PEC) Gap analysis (PDF)
- Pathogens of Epidemiological Concern (PEC) policy (PDF)
Long-Term Care (LTC) Settings
- Respiratory Protection Program for Long-Term Care Facilities
- LTC Visitation Guidance - YouTube
- LTC Isolation Precautions Guidance V2 - YouTube
- LTC Visitation Videos Flyer (PDF)
Skilled Nursing Facilities
- Enhanced Barrier Precautions Quick Guide (PDF)
- CDC Viral Respiratory Pathogens Toolkit for Nursing Homes
- Measles in Long-Term Care (PDF)
- Enhanced Barrier Precautions Policy Template for Skilled Nursing Facilities (PDF)