Infection Prevention and Control

Public Health Ontario Provincial Infectious Disease Advisory Committee (PIDAC)

Best practice documents are intended for use by health care workers and facilities / organizations providing health care including hospitals, long term care facilities, and community based health care organizations. Recommendations in best practice documents are developed through reviews of literature and consultations with experts in infectious disease surveillance, communicable disease and immunization.

The following best practice documents are available:

Infection Prevention and Control Programs in Ontario (May 2012)
Infection Prevention and Control for Clinical Office Practice (April 2015)
Cleaning, Disinfection and Sterilization of Medical Equipment/Devices (May 2013)
Routine Practices and Additional Precautions / Annexes A, B & C (November 2012
- Annex A – Screening, Testing and Surveillance for ARO’s (February 2013)
- Annex B – Prevention of Transmission of Acute Respiratory Infection (March 2013
- Annex C – Testing, Surveillance and Management of Clostridium Difficile (January 2013)
Environmental Cleaning for Prevention and Control of Infections (May 2012)
The Best Practices for Hand Hygiene 4^th Edition (April 2014)
Sexually Transmitted Infections Case Management and Contact Tracing (April 2009)
Surveillance of Health Care associated Infections (July 2015)
Infection Prevention and Control in Pertinatology (February 2015)
Best Practices for Prevention, Surveillance and Infection Control Management of Novel Respiratory Infections (September 2015)

Clinical Office Practice - (Public Health Ontario)

Infection Prevention and Control for Clinical Office Practice (April 2015)
Updated Guidance on the use of mulitdose vials
Top Five High Risk Practice Recommendations (Lancets, glucometers, and insulin pens, Blood collection devices, Tonometers, Syringes and Needles, Sterilization Logs)
Checklist – may be useful in identifying areas that can be improved upon.
- Checklist for Monthly Inspection for Clinical Office Safety
- Checklist for Safe Medication Practices
- Checklist for Office Infection Prevention and Control
- Reprocessing endoscopy equipment
- Check list for Reprocessing
Signage
- Cover your cough
- Self screening signs
- How to use hand rub and hand washing
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Staff Immunization Recommendations
- staff should be aware of their immunization status and have their immunizations up to date. Immunizations appropriate for health care providers include:
  - Annual influenza vaccine
  - Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine (two doses or serologic documentation of immunity
  - Varicella vaccine (two doses) or serologic documentation of immunity
  - Hepatitis B vaccine (complete series) and serologic confirmation of immunity for staff who may be exposed to blood, body fluids or contaminated sharps in their work
  - Tetanus vaccine (every 10 years)
  - Acellular pertussis vaccine (one dose Tdap)

Environmental Cleaning, Cleaning, Disinfection and Sterilization of Medical Devices

Public Health Ontario PIDAC - Best Practices for Environmental Cleaning for Prevention and Control of Infections in All Health Care Settings

Public Health Ontario PIDAC - Best Practices for Cleaning, Disinfection and Sterilization of Medical Equipment/Devices in All Health Care Settings

Infection Prevention and Control Continuing Education / Teaching Aids:

Public Health Ontario IPAC Core Competencies Online Learning Course – (Free) Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) core competencies are basic knowledge and skills all health care workers in Ontario need to possess about infection prevention and control, regardless of their role or position, education, experience or culture. The course is based on PIDAC best practices. It provides health care providers with essential information on how to protect themselves, their patients /clients, and co-workers from infection.
- Occupational Health and Safety
- Chain of Transmission and Risk Assessment
- Health Care Provider Controls
- Control of the Environment
- Administrative Controls
Reprocessing in Community Health Care Settings
Public Health Ontario Environmental Cleaning Toolkit – (Free) This toolkit has been designed to support environmental service managers and infection control professionals in providing training to staff regarding effective procedures for environmental cleaning. The program supports the PIDAC Best Practice document Environmental Cleaning for Prevention and Control of Infections.

Visit the Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology (CBIC) on how to achieve your CIC (Certification in Infection Control) designation, exam eligibility, candidate handbook, exam content, and international testing.

Other Infection Prevention and Control Resources:

Canadian Safety Standards (CSA)

CSA works in collaboration with many key stakeholders in the healthcare sector, and has developed a number of important solutions for health care facilities and providers.

Health Care and Medical Devices

Documents include (but not limited to):