Infection Prevention and Control Awareness

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this Infection Prevention and Control training course, learners should know and understand the following:

• Defining infection control
• Be able to describe what is meant by the term ‘infection control’ and provide examples of relevant processes.
• Chain of infection and its effects
• Understand the chain of infection and how people become infected.
• Germs and infection
• Describe the different types of germs and infections that are present in a care setting
• Common infections
• Identify the most common healthcare-associated infections that patients can contract
• Infection control and HAI management
• Learn and understand the need for infection control and HAI (Healthcare Associated Infection) management in a health and social care setting.
• Hand washing to WHO standard
• Learn and understand how to wash hands to WHO standard, when hands should be washed and the reasons why this is important.
• PPE for infection control
• Learn and describe what PPE is available for infection control and learn why PPE is important in preventing infection.
• Preventing spread
• Understand your roles and responsibilities and how you can help prevent infection from spreading.
• Role of CQC in regard to infection control
• Understand the role of the CQC with regard to infection control and how they manage the healthcare sector.

Frequently asked questions

Infection control and prevention is essential for health and social care workplaces that pose a heightened risk of infection to patients. Discover our experts’ answers to commonly asked questions regarding the Infection Control Awareness course.

What is infection control and why is it so important?

Infection control refers to the processes and procedures that are in place to prevent or minimise the spread of infections and is one of the top priorities for healthcare organisations.

It’s vital that everyone understands the huge importance of Infection Control in a healthcare environment. Bacteria and germs can spread at an uncontrollable speed, and ensuring strict infection control procedures is an essential step in protecting the health and wellbeing of patients, visitors and staff. An example of Infection Control is hand washing – that’s why it’s vital that everyone regularly washes their hands and minimises interaction with others if they feel ill. Staff should also wear adequate PPE in the correct manner, such as aprons, masks and gloves.

How long does an infection control certificate last?

Our infection Control certificate doesn’t expire!

However, it is recommended to retake the course once a year based on industry best practice guidelines. Revisiting the course annually has a few benefits – firstly to refresh the general knowledge of your staff on infection control and legislation, and to ensure relevant procedures remain fresh in the mind. Secondly, retaking the course ensures that your staff possess up-to-date knowledge, as the Infection Control Training Course is regularly updated to reflect new developments. It is just as important as it proves to institutions such as the CQC, HSE or OFSTED that your staff’s knowledge is up to date on infection control.

What are the standard precautions for infection control?

The standard precautions are the minimum infection prevention and control practices that must be used for all patients in all situations. The Infection Control Training standard precautions include:

• Hand hygiene – considered the most important infection control measure for reducing the spread of infection.
• Use of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves, masks, eyewear and aprons where appropriate.
• Respiratory & cough hygiene (‘Catch it, Bin it, Kill it’ technique) – Implement measures to limit the transmission of respiratory spread from coughing, sneezing or rhinorrhoea.
• Safe disposal of waste – Items, like used gloves, aprons, swaps, dressings and other sharp or non-sharp waste contaminated with patient blood or saliva, will need to be disposed of safely in biohazard waste bins.
• Safe management of body fluid – Blood, vomit or urine pose an infection risk in healthcare settings, such as care homes or hospitals, so the safe and effective management of spillage is essential.
• Safe management of care equipment – reusable patient care equipment can easily become contaminated if not rigorously sterilised after use. The World Health Organisation (WHO) advises, where possible, that items should be used once and disposed of.
• Clean and disinfected environmental surfaces – cleaning, disinfection and sterilisation of equipment and surfaces are crucial in healthcare facilities to ensure vulnerable patients aren’t at risk of cross-contamination.
• Safe handling and disposal of linen – a linen deposit should be available to quickly dispose of linen once it’s been used.
• What are the two basic goals of infection control? The two goals of infection control are to protect the patients receiving care and healthcare personnel, such as nurses, carers, doctors or care staff, from infection. It is achieved by minimising the spread of infectious pathogens and to protect vulnerable individuals such as immunocompromised patients.
• What is the most important aspect of infection control?The most important aspect of infection control is hand washing. Frequent and proper handwashing helps to significantly reduce the risk of cross-contamination.

Did you know that there are over 93 contact episodes per hour between patients, nurses, carers and visitors in healthcare facilities? There are five critical points for when hands should be washed:

1. before touching a patient

2. before clean/aseptic procedures

3. after body fluid exposure

4. after touching a patient

5. after touching the patient surroundings

Who is responsible for ensuring infection control training is undertaken?

Although the CQC is responsible for ensuring infection control training is undertaken in the health and social care sector, it’s up to the care organisation to ensure all staff have completed Infection Prevention and Control training to meet the CQC requirements and guidelines. The CQC inspectors go by these questions and prompts to look at how well staff and people living in care homes are protected by infection prevention and control. The 8 questions are:

• Are all types of visitors prevented from catching and spreading infection?
• How are people supported to use and access their environment safely?
• Are people admitted into the service safely?
• Does the service use PPE effectively to safeguard staff and people using services?
• Is there adequate access and take up of testing for staff and people using services?
• Does the layout of premises, use of space and hygiene practice promote safety?
• Do staff training, practices and deployment show the service can prevent transmission of infection and/or manage outbreaks?
• Is IPC policy up to date and implemented effectively to prevent and control infection?

Delivery Methods

Our Infection Control training online can be completed at your own pace at any time, on any device. You’ll also receive full customer support from your dedicated account manager and support team.

• Study when you want 
• Track staff progress
• Study anywhere you want on any device 

Get Certified

Just follow these four simple steps, sit back, relax and let us do the hard work for you and your team.

1.Book A Course Book this Infection Control training that you require via the website, by messaging us or calling

2. Login Once everything has been booked, you will receive login details for you and your staff.

3. Complete Course Complete the Infection Control and Prevention training course you purchased in the delivery method you chose.

4. Become Certified Great! Now you’re certified and can download your certificates from the portal.

Great! Now that you’re certified, you can download the Infection Prevention And Control Awareness certificate from the portal or request a certificate, and we will email it to you in PDF form.