Environmental Infection Prevention and Control

Course overview

The environment (air, water, and fomites) in healthcare settings serves as a reservoir for many pathogens. While there are few reports clearly delineating a cause-and-effect with respect to environmental opportunistic organisms and healthcare-related infections, the strength of available evidence affirms that infection control strategies, when consistently implemented, are effective in preventing environmentally-related healthcare-associated infections among susceptible patients and healthcare workers (HCWs). The course presents essential elements of an infection control/exposure control plan for oral healthcare settings with emphasis on environmental infection control.