The policies and procedures used to prevent the transmission of infection from one infected individual to another. The term is used in connection with the protection of the professionals and other employees who may have contact with the infectious patient, and the protection of other patients. Infection-control measures include the use of protective clothing, hand-washing, precautions against needle-sticks, decontamination (of the patient’s environment, and linens), disposal of wastes, and proper handling of laboratory specimens. The appearance of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and hepatitis B in particular have stimulated increased emphasis on infection-control policies and procedures for all patients.
In medical care, institutional procedures and policies for monitoring and attempting to control the transmission of communicable diseases. This includes establishing mandatory sanitation, sterilization, hand hygiene, and isolation procedures.
The methods used to eliminate or reduce the transmission of infectious organisms.