Infection Control Essentials

By VeriScorePrep Team · 5 min

Infection control rests on breaking the chain of infection at any link. Standard precautions apply to every patient: hand hygiene, gloves when contact with body fluids is possible, and safe handling of sharps.

Standard precautions

Treat all blood and body fluids as potentially infectious. Hand hygiene is the single most effective measure; perform it before and after every patient contact, after removing gloves, and before aseptic tasks. Alcohol-based rubs work for most organisms, but C. difficile spores require soap and water.

Contact precautions

Use for organisms spread by touch — MRSA, VRE, C. difficile, RSV, scabies. Wear gown and gloves for all patient contact and shared equipment; dedicate equipment to the room.

Droplet precautions

For large respiratory droplets traveling short distances — influenza, pertussis, mumps, meningococcal meningitis. A surgical mask within about 3–6 feet is sufficient; a private room or cohorting is standard.

Airborne precautions

For tiny aerosolized particles — tuberculosis, measles, varicella. Use an N95 respirator and a negative-pressure room with air exhausted outside or filtered.

Hierarchy: standard precautions first, then route-specific measures. Hand hygiene is never optional.