Infection Control

Course overview

The goal of this CE offering is to provide nurses with current information about infection control. This article follows the New York State Department of Health and State Education Department's 2010 Infection Control Training Syllabus to meet and fulfill the CE requirement for New York nurses to earn contact hours in specific material on infection control. After reading this article, the learner will be able to: 1. Describe the benefits of adhering to scientifically accepted principles and practices of infection control. 2. Describe how pathogenic organisms may be spread in healthcare settings and how infection control concepts are applied in professional practice. 3. Define engineering controls and work practice controls, and identify where engineering or work practice controls can be utilized to prevent exposure. 4. Identify specific barriers or personal protective equipment that patients and healthcare workers can use to prevent exposure to potentially infectious material. 5. Describe strategies for effective pre-cleaning, chemical disinfection and sterilization of instruments and devices. 6. Identify occupational health strategies for preventing bloodborne pathogens and other communicable diseases in healthcare workers, and identify resources for evaluation of healthcare workers infected with HIV, HBV and/or HCV.