Infection Prevention and Control

We Can All Help Prevent Infections

For information on inpatient units in an outbreak situation, click HERE.

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Proper Handwashing TechniquesProper Handwashing(High Quality PDF - 300 KB)

One of the most important things you can do every day is clean your hands, with soap/water or alcohol-based hand rub, frequently. This is really the simplest way of preventing almost half of the infections and illnesses people are exposed to.

Nosocomial or Hospital-Acquired Infections

Statistics show that about 5-7 per cent of patients admitted to hospitals develop a preventable and even deadly hospital-acquired infection such as

These hospital-acquired infections are called nosocomial infections. It is important to monitor for these types of infections because we do not want them to spread between patients or from patient to visitor. Older patients, those with weak immune systems and patients who have been in hospital for a long time are highly vulnerable to these infections.

Infections are often transmitted through touch and we all play an important role in ensuring we keep ourselves and our loved ones healthy.

If you're visiting a hospital, follow these important tips:

  • If you're visiting a patient or getting treatment, remember to clean your hands when you enter and leave the hospital and before eating. Soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub should be used.
  • If you're visiting a patient who has special isolation instructions posted by the door of his/her patient room, be sure to follow the instructions completely and all the time. These may include wearing a gown and gloves while you're in the patient's room, not touching the patient or equipment/furniture in the room, not using the patient's bathroom, and washing your hands before and after putting on gloves.
  • Patients - Ask your doctor, nurse, other health care professional and all visitors to clean their hands before touching you. It's your right as a patient, so speak up.

Education

Hand Washing

Are you washing your hands properly? Follow these simple steps to ensure a clean result!

  • Use warm running water and soap.
  • Rub hands together briskly for 15 seconds (about the time it takes to sing Happy Birthday)
  • Rinse hands thoroughly and dry with a clean paper towel.
  • Use paper towel to turn off the tap.

Use these tips at home too!

Make sure you wash your hands:

  • Before and after visiting a patient.
  • After coughing or blowing your nose.
  • After using the washroom.
  • Before eating.

Waterless alcohol-based hand rub dispensers can be found throughout the hospital.

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Useful resources on infection prevention and control

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