This week marks the annual International Infection Prevention Week (IIPW) and the 2023 theme is “Celebrate the Fundamentals of Infection Prevention.”
The fundamentals of infection prevention may sound basic, but they are proven methods for preventing illness and death. These actions work and are appropriate for everyone from families at home to infection prevention professionals in a hospital setting.
Everyone, please remember and celebrate:
- Hand hygiene: washing your hands is the single most effective way to prevent the spread of infections.
- Proper use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): items like masks and gloves should be used when there is an expectation of a possible exposure to infectious materials.
- The importance of vaccination: it protects the people who receive them and also those around them.
- Cleaning and disinfection principles: cleaning visible contamination, such as dirt, is an essential first step to disinfection and sterilization. Routinely clean frequently touched surfaces as well.
- Respiratory etiquette: covering coughs and sneezes to help prevent the spread of germs that cause serious respiratory illnesses.
- Injection safety: Remember – one needle, one syringe, on one patient only.
Training videos around these topic areas can be viewed on our ADHS Project Firstline webpage. These training videos are intended to be accessible no matter your previous training or educational background, concise to fit around your busy schedule, and interactive to keep you engaged.
Learn more about getting back to the basics of infection prevention on our International Infection Prevention Week webpage. Help our communities by spreading the word that infection prevention is everyone’s responsibility!
