Top-Rated Infection Control Training

The five basic principles of infection control are:

• Respiratory Hygiene, including promoting/practicing cough etiquette, keeping tissues and no-touch receptacles handy, and making hand-washing/sanitizing stations available.
• Hand Hygiene should be practiced before touching the patient, before performing clean/aseptic procedures, after any body fluid exposure risk, after touching the patient, and after touching the patient's surroundings.
• Environmental Hygiene, including the disinfection of high-risk touchpoints, proper cleaning of equipment, safe handling of linens, and more.
• Use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including inspection, proper fitting and donning, and safe disposal or disinfection.
• Care Coordination to ensure that infection control is practiced consistently.

Infection control training should occur:

• Initially, upon hiring,
• Annually as a refresher,
• As needed to address new job duties,
• As needed for new medical devices or equipment, and
• When an infection outbreak must be brought under control.

OSHA has several different standards that apply to infection control, including the Bloodborne Pathogen (BBP) standard (29 CFR 1910.1030), the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) standard (§1910.132), and the Respiratory Protection standard (§1910.134).

The BBP standard requires employers to provide initial training when assigned to duties in which exposure may take place, and then "at least annually thereafter." Additional training is called for when changes to tasks or procedures create additional opportunities for exposure.

The PPE standard calls for training to recur "annually, and more often if necessary."

The Respiratory Protection standard requires training at least every 12 months. Employers also must provide training prior to initial use and when workplace conditions change, new types of respirators are used, or inadequacies in the employee's knowledge or use indicates need.