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CE Infection Prevention Control

The course teaches evidence‑based infection prevention, covering the chain of infection, standard precautions, hand hygiene, PPE, and transmission‑based precautions, enabling clinicians to protect patients and reduce healthcare‑associated infections.

Who Should Take This

Nurses, physicians, allied health professionals, and other frontline staff who have at least one year of clinical experience and are responsible for patient safety will benefit. They seek to update their knowledge of current guidelines, recognize emerging infectious threats, and apply precise standard and transmission‑based precautions in daily practice.

What's Included in AccelaStudy® AI

Adaptive Knowledge Graph

Practice Questions

Lesson Modules

Console Simulator Labs

Exam Tips & Strategy

20 Activity Formats

Course Outline

60 learning goals

1 Chain of Infection

1 topic

Six links of the chain of infection

Recognize the six links of the chain of infection: infectious agent, reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of entry, and susceptible host.
Describe the characteristics of infectious agents including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites and explain how virulence, infectivity, and pathogenicity affect disease transmission.
Explain the modes of transmission including contact (direct and indirect), droplet, airborne, common vehicle, and vector-borne and identify clinical examples of each.
Analyze clinical scenarios to identify which link in the chain of infection can be most effectively broken to prevent disease transmission.

2 Standard Precautions

1 topic

Core standard precaution components

Recognize the components of standard precautions including hand hygiene, PPE use, respiratory hygiene, safe injection practices, and sterile technique.
Explain when standard precautions apply including contact with blood, body fluids, secretions, excretions, non-intact skin, and mucous membranes regardless of suspected diagnosis.
Describe safe injection practices including single-use needle and syringe protocols, multi-dose vial handling, and parenteral medication preparation standards.

3 Hand Hygiene

1 topic

WHO five moments and technique

Recognize the WHO five moments for hand hygiene: before patient contact, before aseptic task, after body fluid exposure risk, after patient contact, and after touching patient surroundings.
Describe the correct technique for alcohol-based hand rub application including volume, duration, and coverage of all hand surfaces.
Explain when soap-and-water handwashing is required instead of alcohol-based rub including visibly soiled hands, C. difficile exposure, and norovirus exposure.
Analyze hand hygiene compliance monitoring data to identify improvement opportunities and evaluate the effectiveness of behavioral interventions.
Synthesize a unit-level hand hygiene improvement plan incorporating direct observation, electronic monitoring, feedback mechanisms, and culture change strategies.

4 Personal Protective Equipment

1 topic

PPE selection, donning, and doffing

Identify the types of PPE used in healthcare including gloves, gowns, surgical masks, N95 respirators, PAPRs, eye protection, and face shields.
Describe the correct donning sequence for full PPE: hand hygiene, gown, mask or respirator, eye protection, gloves.
Describe the correct doffing sequence for full PPE: gloves, eye protection, gown, mask or respirator, hand hygiene, emphasizing self-contamination prevention.
Explain the differences between surgical masks and N95 respirators including filtration efficiency, fit testing requirements, and clinical indications for each.
Analyze clinical scenarios to select the appropriate type and level of PPE based on the anticipated exposure, transmission route, and procedure being performed.

5 Transmission-Based Precautions

1 topic

Contact, droplet, and airborne precautions

Recognize the indications for contact precautions including MRSA, VRE, C. difficile, scabies, and other organisms spread by direct or indirect contact.
Recognize the indications for droplet precautions including influenza, pertussis, meningococcal disease, and respiratory syncytial virus.
Recognize the indications for airborne precautions including tuberculosis, measles, varicella, and disseminated herpes zoster.
Describe the specific PPE, patient placement, and transport requirements for each category of transmission-based precautions.
Analyze patient scenarios to determine the appropriate level of transmission-based precautions and the criteria for discontinuing isolation.

6 Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure

1 topic

Needlestick protocol and post-exposure management

Describe the immediate steps following a needlestick or sharps injury including wound care, source patient testing, and incident reporting.
Explain post-exposure prophylaxis protocols for HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C including timing requirements, medication regimens, and follow-up testing schedules.
Identify the reporting requirements under OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard including exposure incident documentation, sharps injury logs, and employer obligations.
Analyze a bloodborne pathogen exposure scenario to determine the appropriate post-exposure prophylaxis regimen and follow-up schedule based on source and exposure type.

7 Healthcare-Associated Infections

1 topic

HAI types and prevention bundles

Recognize the four major healthcare-associated infections: CLABSI, CAUTI, SSI, and VAP, and identify their associated risk factors and patient populations.
Describe the evidence-based CLABSI prevention bundle including hand hygiene, maximal barrier precautions, chlorhexidine skin prep, optimal site selection, and daily line necessity review.
Describe the evidence-based CAUTI prevention bundle including catheter insertion indications, aseptic insertion technique, maintenance care, and daily catheter necessity review.
Describe SSI prevention measures including preoperative skin preparation, antimicrobial prophylaxis timing, intraoperative normothermia, and glycemic control.
Describe VAP prevention strategies including head-of-bed elevation, daily sedation vacations, readiness-to-extubate assessments, oral care, and peptic ulcer prophylaxis.
Analyze HAI surveillance data to identify trends, calculate infection rates, and evaluate the effectiveness of prevention bundle compliance.
Synthesize a unit-specific HAI reduction plan incorporating bundle compliance monitoring, staff education, and performance feedback mechanisms.

8 Environmental Cleaning and Disinfection

1 topic

Cleaning procedures and disinfection technologies

Identify high-touch surfaces in patient care areas and describe the frequency and methods for routine and enhanced cleaning.
Describe terminal cleaning procedures performed after patient discharge including the sequence of cleaning, disinfectant contact times, and verification methods.
Explain the role of no-touch disinfection technologies including ultraviolet-C light and hydrogen peroxide vapor as adjuncts to manual cleaning.
Describe EPA-registered disinfectant categories, their spectrum of activity, and criteria for selecting appropriate products based on the target pathogen.
Analyze environmental cleaning compliance data and fluorescent marker audit results to identify gaps in cleaning thoroughness.

9 Antibiotic Stewardship

1 topic

Stewardship principles and resistance mechanisms

Describe the core principles of antibiotic stewardship including appropriate prescribing, de-escalation, duration optimization, and formulary restriction.
Explain the mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance including enzymatic inactivation, target modification, efflux pumps, and reduced permeability.
Recognize multidrug-resistant organisms of clinical significance including MRSA, VRE, ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae, and CRE and their infection control implications.
Describe the relationship between antibiotic use and Clostridioides difficile infection risk including high-risk antibiotics and prevention strategies.
Analyze antibiogram data and prescribing patterns to identify opportunities for improving antimicrobial stewardship practices on a clinical unit.

10 Isolation Precautions and Respiratory Protection

1 topic

Airborne isolation and fit testing

Describe airborne infection isolation room requirements including negative pressure ventilation, minimum air changes per hour, and HEPA filtration.
Explain N95 respirator fit testing procedures including qualitative and quantitative methods, fit check requirements, and annual retesting standards.
Describe the indications for and proper use of powered air-purifying respirators (PAPRs) as an alternative to N95 respirators.
Analyze patient transport and procedure scenarios involving airborne precaution patients to determine the appropriate respiratory protection and environmental controls.

11 Outbreak Investigation

1 topic

Healthcare outbreak investigation basics

Describe the steps of an outbreak investigation including case identification, case definition development, line listing, epidemiologic curve construction, and hypothesis generation.
Explain contact tracing methodology in healthcare settings including exposed patient identification, staff exposure assessment, and monitoring protocols.
Analyze outbreak data including line listings and epidemic curves to identify the likely source, mode of transmission, and period of exposure.
Synthesize an outbreak control plan incorporating immediate containment measures, enhanced surveillance, communication protocols, and post-outbreak review.

12 Sharps Safety and Waste Management

1 topic

Sharps disposal and regulated medical waste

Identify engineering controls for sharps safety including safety-engineered devices, self-sheathing needles, and needleless systems.
Describe proper sharps container use including fill levels, placement locations, assembly procedures, and disposal protocols.
Explain the classification and handling requirements for regulated medical waste including biohazard waste, pathological waste, and chemotherapy waste.
Analyze waste segregation practices on a clinical unit to identify noncompliance and recommend corrective actions to meet OSHA and state regulatory requirements.

13 Healthcare Worker Immunizations

1 topic

Required vaccinations and TB screening

Identify the recommended immunizations for healthcare workers including influenza, hepatitis B, MMR, varicella, Tdap, and COVID-19 vaccines.
Describe tuberculosis screening protocols for healthcare workers including baseline two-step TST, annual screening, IGRA testing, and post-exposure evaluation.
Explain declination policies, medical exemptions, and religious exemptions for mandatory healthcare worker vaccination programs.
Analyze a healthcare facility's immunization compliance data to identify gaps in coverage and recommend strategies to improve vaccination rates.
Synthesize a comprehensive infection prevention orientation program for new healthcare workers covering standard precautions, PPE competency, immunization requirements, and exposure protocols.

Scope

Included Topics

Chain of infection model covering the six links: infectious agent, reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of entry, and susceptible host, with clinical examples for each link.
Standard precautions including hand hygiene (WHO five moments), personal protective equipment selection and donning/doffing sequences, respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette, safe injection practices, and sterile technique.
Transmission-based precautions: contact precautions, droplet precautions, and airborne precautions, including indications, required PPE, patient placement, and duration guidelines.
Hand hygiene best practices including alcohol-based hand rub technique, soap-and-water handwashing technique, surgical hand antisepsis, compliance monitoring methods, and behavioral strategies to improve adherence.
Personal protective equipment including glove selection, gown types, surgical masks vs. N95 respirators, eye protection and face shields, and the correct donning and doffing sequence to prevent self-contamination.
Bloodborne pathogen exposure management including needlestick injury protocol, post-exposure prophylaxis for HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C, reporting requirements, and follow-up testing schedules.
Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) including central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI), catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI), surgical site infections (SSI), and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), with evidence-based prevention bundles for each.
Environmental cleaning and disinfection including high-touch surface cleaning, terminal cleaning procedures, emerging technologies (UV-C, hydrogen peroxide vapor), and EPA-registered disinfectant selection.
Antibiotic stewardship principles including appropriate prescribing practices, mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance, multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs), and Clostridioides difficile risk reduction.
Isolation precautions including airborne infection isolation rooms (AIIRs), negative pressure ventilation requirements, N95 fit testing procedures, and powered air-purifying respirators (PAPRs).
Outbreak investigation basics in healthcare settings including case definition development, line listing, contact tracing, transmission mapping, and implementation of control measures.
Sharps safety and waste management including engineering controls, sharps disposal containers, biohazard waste classification, regulated medical waste handling, and OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard compliance.
Immunization requirements for healthcare workers including influenza, hepatitis B series, MMR, varicella, COVID-19 vaccines, and tuberculosis screening protocols.

Not Covered

Advanced microbiology, molecular epidemiology, or laboratory diagnostic techniques beyond clinical practitioner understanding.
Detailed pharmacology of antimicrobial agents beyond the stewardship principles relevant to infection prevention practice.
Hospital administration, budgeting, and capital planning for infection prevention programs except where directly impacting clinical practice.
Research methodology for infection prevention clinical trials or meta-analysis beyond basic outbreak investigation skills.
Veterinary infection control or agricultural biosecurity measures not applicable to human healthcare settings.

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