Infection Control and Barrier Precautions – New York

About this course

The role of infection control is to reduce and prevent the risk for hospital-acquired infections. To practice effective infection control practices, the healthcare professional must be knowledgeable of methods to prevent infection transmission. This training encompasses the seven core elements on infection control and barrier precautions and covers the most current and scientifically accepted practices in infection control as recommended by the Center for Disease Control (CDC).

Learning objectives

• Understand the seven elements in relation to infection control

Course outline

33 sections · finish in any order across devices

1. 1

   Introduction

   The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) are the regulating bodies of infection control, prevention, and awareness. Infection control refers to the policies and procedures that are practiced to reduce and prevent the spread of infections. Spe

   4 min

2. 2

   New York State Chapter 786 Infection Control Training Requirements

   In August 1992, Chapter 786 of the Laws of 1992 established a requirement that certain healthcare professionals licensed in New York State receive training on infection control and barrier precautions by July 1994, and every four years thereafter unless otherwise exempted. ¹⁰ The goal of the infecti

   4 min

3. 3

   Element I

   Healthcare professionals have the responsibility to adhere to scientifically accepted principles and practices of infection control in all healthcare settings and to oversee and monitor those medical and ancillary personnel for whom the professional is responsible

   4 min

4. 4

   Element II

   Modes and mechanisms of transmission of pathogenic organisms in the healthcare setting and strategies for prevention and control

   4 min

5. 5

   Element III

   Use of engineering and work practice controls to reduce the opportunity for patient and healthcare worker exposure to potentially infectious material in all healthcare settings

   4 min

6. 6

   Element IV

   Selection and use of barriers and/or personal protective equipment for preventing patient and healthcare worker contact with potentially infectious material

   4 min

7. 7

   Element V

   Creation and maintenance of a safe environment for patient care in all healthcare settings through application of infection control principles and practices for cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization

   4 min

8. 8

   Element VI

   Prevention and control of infectious and communicable diseases in healthcare workers

   4 min

9. 9

   Element VII

   Sepsis awareness and education

   4 min

10. 10

    Rules of the Board of Regents, Part 29.2 (a)(13)

    The rules of the Board of Regents are as follows⁹:

    5 min

11. 11

    Course Provider Approval

    Organizations interested in seeking provider approval for infection control course work or training must seek application from the appropriate department.

    4 min

12. 12

    American Nurse Association

    Infection control and prevention, and its main tenants are often forgotten. The healthcare provider must do the following to improve infection control⁴:

    4 min

13. 13

    Methods of Compliance

    In the state of New York, Healthcare professionals must take an approved course in infection control and barrier precautions every 4 years. ⁸ The course is taken to improve infection control practices of healthcare providers, because although the principles of infection control may be known, they ar

    4 min

14. 14

    Transmission of Infectious Organisms

    The ability of an infectious organism to be transmitted within a healthcare setting is dependent on three elements: a source of infection, a susceptible host with a portal of entry for the infectious organism to enter, and a mode of transmission for the source of infection. ³ For instance, a patient

    4 min

15. 15

    Indirect Contact

    Indirect contact involves the transfer of an infectious organism because of encountering a contaminated object or person. ¹˒³ Examples of indirect contact include:

    4 min

16. 16

    Modes of Transmission

    There are several classes of pathogens that can cause infection, including bacteria, fungi, parasites, prions, and viruses. ¹˒¹² The modes of transmission of the pathogens varies depending on the type of organism. Some infectious organisms may be transmitted by more than one route. For instance, Her

    4 min

17. 17

    Standard Precaution

    Standard precautions are used for all patient care. ¹² Standard precautions include hand hygiene, personal protective equipment, appropriate patient placement, cleaning and disinfecting patient care equipment, safe injection practices, and proper disposal of needles and other sharp objects.

    9 min

18. 18

    Considerations for reprocessing equipment include

    Health professionals should be aware of the OSHA Guidelines and the CDC Guidelines that use the Spaulding classification, depending on the need for disinfection or sterilization and the categories of critical, semi-critical, or non-critical items.

    4 min

19. 19

    Contact Precaution

    Contact precautions are used for patients with known or suspected infections that can be transmitted directly or indirectly through patient contact, or their environment, including their room or objects within the room.¹˒³ For instance, patients with acute infectious diarrhea such as Clostridium dif

    4 min

20. 20

    Droplet Precaution

    Droplet precautions are used for patients with known or suspected infections that can be transmitted by air droplets from respiratory secretions by coughing, sneezing, talking, and by close contact with an infected patient's breathing. ¹˒³ Droplets are about 30 to 50 micrometers in size. Because the

    4 min

21. 21

    Airborne Precaution

    Airborne precautions are used for patients with known or suspected infections that can be transmitted by the airborne route. ¹˒³ These infections are 5 micrometers or smaller in size, can be transmitted over long distances, and can remain suspended in the air for long periods of time. Because airbor

    4 min

22. 22

    Bloodborne Precaution

    Bloodborne precautions are usually due to the blood-borne transmission of infectious organisms through percutaneous injuries, which can be prevented using changes in technique, experience, and safety devices. ¹˒¹³ These precautions apply to any blood-containing fluids, including cerebrospinal fluid,

    4 min

23. 23

    Hepatitis

    Hepatitis refers to an inflammatory condition of the liver and is usually caused by a viral infection, medications, drugs, toxins, and alcohol use, or because of an autoimmune response. ¹⁵ People at increased risk for hepatitis infection include:

    6 min

24. 24

    Human Immunodeficiency Virus

    Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system. ² If HIV is not treated, it can lead to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). ² HIV is spread through blood and body fluids through anal or vaginal sex, sharing needles, syringes, or other drug injection equipm

    4 min

25. 25

    Tuberculosis

    Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. ¹⁴ The bacteria usually attack the lungs, but TB bacteria can attack any part of the body, including the kidneys, spine, and the brain. Tuberculosis is spread through the air from one person to another through coughing, sp

    4 min

26. 26

    Creating an Infection Control Committee

    To organize and implement a well-structured infection control program, hospitals should employ epidemiologists and infection preventionists, and create an infection control committee. ⁶ The role of the hospital epidemiologist (a physician with a subspecialty in infectious disease) is to oversee the

    6 min

27. 27

    Sepsis

    Sepsis occurs because of a severe infection that has spread to a person’s blood stream, causing widespread inflammation and damage to tissues. ¹ Almost any type of infection can lead to sepsis, but usually the infections are most likely to start in the lung, urinary tract, skin, or gastrointestinal

    4 min

28. 28

    Sepsis High Risk Groups

    Anyone affected by an infection, severe injury, or serious non-communicable disease can progress to sepsis, but vulnerable populations are at higher risk including¹:

    4 min

29. 29

    Sepsis Signs and Symptoms

    Sepsis is a medical emergency and can present with various signs and symptoms at different times. Warning signs and symptoms include¹:

    4 min

30. 30

    Sepsis Diagnosis and Treatment

    Identifying and not underestimating the signs and symptoms of sepsis, along with the detection of some biomarkers (such as C reactive protein and procalcitonin), are crucial elements for early diagnosis of sepsis and establishing timely clinical management. ³ After early recognition, diagnostics to

    4 min

31. 31

    Medications

    Several medications are used in treating sepsis and septic shock. They include¹:

    4 min

32. 32

    Conclusion

    Infection control clinically translates to identifying and containing infections to minimize transmission. Healthcare providers play a significant role in infection control by identifying a patient’s signs and symptoms that may be suspicious for transmissible diseases. When infectious disease is sus

    4 min

33. 33

    § 230-a. Infection control standards

    Visit: http://public.leginfo.state.ny.us/lawssrch.cgi?NVLWO: and search term “230-a”

    4 min

This course satisfies

Requirement summaries come from our state requirement records. Always confirm details with your board before you renew.

References and resources

• Control and prevent the spread of germs. (2020, May 6). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/infectioncontrol/index.html
• HIV. (2020, June 10). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/default.html
• How infections spread. (2019, March 25). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/infectioncontrol/spread/index.html
• Infection prevention & control. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/work-environment/health-safety/infection-prevention/
• The Institute of Medicine report on medical errors. (2000). New England Journal of Medicine, 343(9), 663-665. doi:10.1056/nejm200008313430917
• Jefferson, J., & Mermel, L. A. (2017). Coordination of infection control activities at the healthcare system level: Survey results. Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, 39(1), 121-122. doi:10.1017/ice.2017.257
• New York codes, rules and regulations, title 10. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.health.ny.gov/regulations/nycrr/title_10/
• New York codes, rules, and regulations. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://govt.westlaw.com/nycrr/Browse/Index?bhcp=1&transitionType=Default&contextData=%28sc.Default%29
• NYS rules of the board of Regents:Part 29. (2018, December 12). Retrieved from https://www.op.nysed.gov/title8/part29.htm
• OP:Training:Mandated training related to infection control. (2018, August 9). Retrieved from https://www.op.nysed.gov/training/icmemo.htm
• Pittet, D., Boyce, J. M., & Allegranzi, B. (2017). Hand hygiene: A handbook for medical professionals. John Wiley & Sons.
• Precautions | Isolation precautions | Guideline’s library | Infection control | CDC. (2019, July 22). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/infectioncontrol/guidelines/isolation/precautions.html
• Raznahan, R. (2020). Barriers factors of infection control and prevention in intensive care units. International Journal of Psychosocial Rehabilitation, 24(5), 1136-1144. doi:10.37200/ijpr/v24i5/pr201788
• Tuberculosis (TB). (2020, June 16). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/tb/default.htm
• Viral hepatitis. (2020, September 18). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/index.htm

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