Infection Prevention and Control

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Infection Prevention and Control Overview

Infection control and prevention, including safe injection practices, are the responsibility of all healthcare providers.

The potential for clinically significant microbial cross transmission in the intraoperative environment poses a threat to patient safety. A growing body of literature has shown contamination in the anesthesia work area, including the anesthesia medical work cart, stopcocks, laryngeal masks and laryngoscope blades, touchscreens, and keyboards, as well as on providers’ hands, resulting in transmissions, healthcare-associated infections, and increased risk of patient mortality.

The resources below build on the foundational premise that all facilities where anesthesia services are delivered have formal infection prevention and control programs. Essential elements of these programs include, but are not limited to, policies and procedures for HH, safe preparation and delivery of intravenous medications, and environmental cleaning and disinfection. All individuals involved in these procedures require training appropriate to their tasks, as well as regular skills assessments.

AANA Guidelines

Safe Injection Guidelines for Needle and Syringe Use

Infection Prevention and Control Guidelines for Anesthesia Care

Additional Resources

Below is a collection of infection control resources from the AANA, CDC, FDA, and other health care organizations.

Safe Injection Practice Coalition: Resources for CRNAs

Safe Injection Practice Coalition: Resources for CRNAs

The Safe Injection Practices Coalition (SIPC) is a partnership of healthcare-related organizations, patient advocacy organizations, industry partners, and other public health partners, led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC Foundation is the convening partner of the coalition, formed to promote safe injection practices in all U.S. healthcare settings.

SIPC Founding Partners developed the One & Only Campaign – a public health effort to eliminate unsafe medical injections. SIPC Partners are committed to bringing safer healthcare to everyone through the development and distribution of educational and multimedia tools for healthcare providers and patients on the issue of injection safety.

The One & Only Campaign includes:

Antibiotic Resistance

Communicable Diseases

Disinfection and Sterilization

Emergency Preparedness

Hantavirus

Hand Hygiene

Healthcare Acquired Infections

Regulatory Requirements

Safe Injection Practices

Workplace Safety

Disclaimer

The resources on this page may incorporate or summarize views, guidelines, or recommendations of third parties. Such material is assembled and presented in good faith, but does not necessarily reflect the views of the AANA. Links to third-party websites are inserted for informational purposes and do not constitute endorsement of the material on those sites, or of any associated organization.

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