HAI Infection Prevention Education
The resources below are intended to connect health care facility infection preventionists (IP) with education materials to support their role in preventing, detecting, and responding to healthcare-associated infections (HAI).
IPs play an essential role in facility infection prevention policy development, surveillance, and risk assessment. IPs also serve as a resource to other staff and programs within their facilities.
In addition to the state in-person trainings and online references below, there are a number of links to trusted education resources, including the CDC (Centers for Disease Prevention and Control), the CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services), and the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC).
Monthly webinars for IPs
Long-term care education series
The long-term care (LTC) education series provides education presentations on topics that include infection prevention, HAIs, antibiotic stewardship, disease surveillance, and outbreak response for staff at skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, local health departments, and other LTC stakeholders. Each session features a new, timely topic presented by the Department of Health Services (DHS) program staff, HAI infection preventionists, partner organizations, or other external subject matter experts.
The LTC education series is a monthly webinar series, typically held the fourth Thursday of each month. Register for the LTC education series.
View the full library of education sessions. Links to the presentation slides are available in the description of each Vimeo video. Note: All 2021, 2022, and 2023 education sessions can be found by visiting the full library.
February 22, 2024
- Topic: Core Antibiotic Tracking and Reporting Measures for Nursing Homes
- Core Antibiotic Tracking and Reporting Measures for Nursing Homes PowerPoint slides (PDF)
January 25, 2024
IP lunch and learn webinar series
The lunch and learn series is an opportunity for IPs from all care settings to come together to discuss introductory infection prevention and control (IPC) topics, as well as share information, network, and ask questions. Each session focuses on a different basic IPC topic area and includes a brief overview with resources and time for attendees to ask questions and share tips and tricks. IPs newer to their role will especially benefit from the information shared.
The IP lunch and learn series is a monthly webinar series, typically held the second Tuesday of each month. Register for the IP lunch and learn webinar series.
View the full library of education sessions. Links to the presentation slides are available in the description of each Vimeo video. Note: All 2022 and 2023 education sessions can be found by visiting the full library.
March 12, 2024
February 13, 2024
- Topic: Pesky Pets in Health Care Facilities
- Pesky Pests in Health Care Facilities PowerPoint slides (PDF)
January 9, 2024
Have a topic request?
Send topic ideas or requests that you have for the long-term care education series or the IP lunch and learn series to DHSWIHAIPreventionProgram@dhs.wi.gov.
IP Bootcamp
The IP Bootcamp prepares new IPs for their role and promotes networking among IPs working in Wisconsin health care facilities. The goals are to accelerate the professional development of IPs, share infection prevention knowledge and experiences, and provide key resources for implementing successful infection prevention programs.
The IP Bootcamp is intended for IPs who are somewhat new to their role who would like basic training on a variety of infection prevention and control topics. IPs in any care setting are invited to attend the IP Bootcamp, as many topics covered apply to all care settings. There will be opportunities to break out by care setting and discuss information specific to different setting types.
Spots for the IP Bootcamp are now full and registration is closed. Please email DHSWIHAIPreventionProgram@dhs.wisconsin.gov if you are interested in future rounds of the IP Bootcamp.
The full IP Bootcamp will consist of two sessions, one day-long virtual session and one day-long in-person session. Attendees may choose to attend only the virtual or in-person session; however, it is highly encouraged to attend both sessions. The virtual session is intended to provide the foundational information. Attendees will then utilize this information while completing hands-on activities during the in-person session.
The HAI Prevention Program will be offering two options for both the virtual and in-person sessions in order to best accommodate attendees’ schedules and locations. Attendees only need to attend one virtual date and/or one in-person date. The training and information provided will be the same.
Virtual session dates
- Tuesday, April 30, 2024
- Wednesday, May 8, 2024
In-person dates
- Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the Marathon County Library, Wausau
- Wednesday, May 22, 2024, at the Carpenters Training Institute Pewaukee Campus
Spots for the IP Bootcamp are now full and registration is closed. Please email DHSWIHAIPreventionProgram@dhs.wisconsin.gov if you are interested in future rounds of the IP Bootcamp.
Both the virtual and in-person sessions are free of charge. Each virtual and in-person session will be limited to 50 attendees. Registration for training sessions will close after 50 attendees are registered.
Virtual session education topics and objectives
The virtual session will include presentations on five topics. Opportunities for questions and answers as well as discussion will also be provided. Topic descriptions and objectives are listed below.
Topic 1: Infection prevention program infrastructure and requirements
This session reviews fundamental information on developing and evaluating an infection prevention program based on risk assessments and regulatory requirements. It will also include other important components of an infection prevention program such as a bloodborne pathogens plan and antimicrobial stewardship initiatives.
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
- Describe essential members of the infection control team.
- Develop and evaluate an annual IP plan based on risk assessment.
- Describe the importance of a bloodborne pathogens plan and identify its components.
- Make decisions based on regulatory requirements.
- Conduct a general IP risk assessment.
- Explain the importance of an antimicrobial stewardship program.
Topic 2: Cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization
This session topic will provide an overview of cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization and introduce Spaulding criteria. In addition, this topic will cover the importance of following specific manufacturer-instructions for use for cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization.
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
- Describe the difference between cleaning, disinfection and sterilization and why each is important.
- Discuss reprocessing of medical devices and describe the Spaulding criteria.
- Define instructions for use and how they apply to items and devices in health care facilities.
- Describe the importance of environmental cleaning.
Topic 3: Laboratory and outbreaks
This session will explore the connection between the lab and infection prevention. Tips for interpreting and responding to common lab reports and results will be shared. This topic will also review strategies for outbreak investigation and mitigation.
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
- Interpret and correctly respond to common lab reports and results.
- Identify when an outbreak is occurring and be able to respond appropriately.
- Be able to explain the difference between colonization and active infection with an MDRO.
Topic 4: Standard and transmission-based precautions
This session will explore components of standard precautions including hand hygiene, personal protective equipment, respiratory hygiene, cleaning and disinfection, laundry practices, injection practices, and patient placement. This session will also describe transmission-based precautions including contact, droplet, airborne, and enhanced barrier precautions.
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
- Identify the types of precautions and determine which are appropriate for specific diseases.
- Explain the components of a respiratory protection program.
Topic 5: Environment of care
This session will explore the health care environment as a source of HAIs. This topic will list potential infection risks (such as water management, construction, and ventilation) and describe mitigation strategies.
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
- Identify important IP considerations for animals and pests in health care facilities.
- Describe the risks associated with water in the health care environment.
- Describe how to mitigate risks associated with construction in health care facilities.
- Describe the risks associated with laundry in the health care environment.
- Describe the risks associated with ventilation in the health care environment.
In-person session activities
The in-person session will consist of several activities including:
- Networking: The in-person session will provide opportunities for networking between facility infection preventionists and with HAI Prevention Program staff.
- Annual IP risk assessment: Participants will work together, with HAI Prevention Program staff, to walk through the completion of an annual IP risk assessment.
- Environment of care rounding tour: Participants will work in small groups to review infection risks identified through a virtual tour of a fictional health care facility.
- Lab result interpretation: Participants will review and interpret examples of common laboratory results.
- Train the trainer education: Participants will receive education and tips for providing CDC Project Firstline training to their own health care facility staff.
Project Firstline resources
The Wisconsin HAI Prevention Program has partnered with the CDC to roll-out a new infection control basics training program aimed at frontline health care workers across health care settings. The content is designed so that frontline health care worker can understand and confidently apply infection control principles and protocols necessary to protect themselves, their facility, their families, and their community from infectious diseases, such as COVID-19. Visit CDC's Project Firstline webpage for more infection control content.
Infection control and COVID-19
Access CDC's Project Firstline training videos below to learn more about infection control and COVID-19.
The following training videos explain the basics of infection prevention and control and provide a high-level overview of viruses.
- What is the goal of infection prevention?
- SARS-CoV-2? COVID-19? What's the difference?
- What's a virus?
- How do viruses make you sick?
Some frontline health care workers may obtain free continuing education (CE) credits for viewing these training videos. Visit CDC's Training and Continuing Education Online webpage for more on obtaining CEs.
Contaminated vaccines can make patients sick. The following training videos focus on important injection safety actions to take when using multi-dose vials.
- Part One: How do I safely use a multi-dose vaccine vial?
- Part Two: How do I safely use a multi-dose vaccine vial?
Some frontline health care workers may obtain free CE credits for viewing these training videos. Visit CDC's Training and Continuing Education Online webpage for more on obtaining CEs.
The following training videos focus on the different types of personal protective equipment (PPE), including eye protection, gloves, and gowns.
- What is PPE?
- Why is eye protection recommended for COVID-19?
- Why are gloves recommended for COVID-19?
- Why are gowns recommended for COVID-19?
Some frontline health care workers may obtain free CE credits for viewing these training videos. Visit CDC's Training and Continuing Education Online webpage for more on obtaining CEs.
Respirators are an important piece of personal protective equipment. The following training videos focus on the different types of respirators and how they contribute to infection control.
Some frontline health care workers may obtain free CE credits for viewing these training videos. Visit CDC's Training and Continuing Education Online webpage for more on obtaining CEs.
The following training videos focus on the importance of environmental cleaning and disinfection for infection control.
- Cleaning? Disinfection? What's the difference?
- Why does cleaning and disinfection matter in healthcare?
- Why does contact time matter for disinfection?
Some frontline health care workers may obtain free CE credits for viewing these training videos. Visit CDC's Training and Continuing Education Online webpage for more on obtaining CEs.
Learn how ventilation, source control, and hand hygiene all play a role in infection control.
- What is ventilation?
- Why does ventilation matter?
- What is source control?
- Do we really have to talk about hand hygiene? Again? Yes!
Some frontline health care workers may obtain free CE credits for viewing these training videos. Visit CDC's Training and Continuing Education Online webpage for more on obtaining CEs.
The following training videos focus on COVID-19 and how it spreads.
- What's a respiratory droplet? Why does it matter?
- How do viruses spread from surfaces to people?
- How can COVID-19 spread when you don't feel sick?
- What do new COVID strains mean for infection control?
- How does COVID-19 spread? A Review
Some frontline health care workers may obtain free CE credits for viewing these training videos. Visit CDC's Training and Continuing Education Online webpage for more on obtaining CEs.
Project Firstline also offers infection control education resources related to COVID-19 in Spanish.
Print materials
View the CDC and DHS co-branded fact sheets to learn move about infection control and COVID-19.
Interactive scenario
Infection control in health care
Access CDC's Project Firstline educational resources to learn more about where germs live in health care settings and how to recognize the risk of spread.
Project Firstline's infection control in health care webpages are meant to provide frontline health care workers with the foundational knowledge on when and how to take action to protect patients, residents, and themselves from infections in health care. Visit the following webpages to learn where germs live and how to recognize the potential for them to spread and cause infections.
Project Firstline also offers information on infection control in health care settings in Spanish.
Project Firstline offers additional educational materials in the form of videos, job aids, microlearns, and interactive scenarios that provide frontline health care workers with the knowledge necessary to apply infection control practices to prevent infections in health care settings.
- Videos and social media graphics
- Microlearns and training toolkits
- Print materials and job aids
- Interactive scenarios
- Ventilation in Health Care Settings (PDF) – CDC and DHS co-branded fact sheet
Project Firstline also offers education resources related to infection control in health care settings in Spanish.
Additional resources
- COVID-19: Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- Colonization Screening in Health Care Settings: Frequently Asked Questions for Staff, P-03530 (Also available in Spanish)
- Disinfectant Considerations for Multidrug-Resistant Organisms, P-03400 (PDF)
- Hand Hygiene Observations, F-02475 (PDF)
- Hand Hygiene and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Observations, F-02726 (PDF)
- IP Starter Kit, P-02992 (PDF): This document provides IPs a brief background and resources for some of the many infection prevention-related responsibilities within health care facilities.
- Infection Prevention Facilitated Discussion Guides, P-03583: These discussion guides can be used to help provide education on various infection prevention topics.
- Non-Critical Items Cleaning and Disinfection Product List, F-02705 (PDF)
- Transmission-Based Precautions Reference Guide, P-03366 (PDF)
- HAI Happenings newsletter: This newsletter highlights new and noteworthy topics for all things related to HAI, shares helpful guidance and resources, and includes updates on Wisconsin HAI Prevention Program activities.
- 2023 Newsletters: Quarter one, quarter two, quarter three, quarter four
- APIC
- CDC Healthcare-Associated Infections
- The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA)
- Infection Prevention Education Videos, Oregon Safety Commission
- Workplace COVID-19 Consulting, Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene (WSLH)
- Respiratory Protection Program Requirements for COVID-19, WSLH
- Pre-Fit Testing Checklist
- You can request a free fit testing kit per the information available on the DHS Stockpile webpage. Please indicate in your email to dhsstockpile@dhs.wisconsin.gov that you are requesting a fit testing kit.
- Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) and Fan Considerations for Long-term Care during COVID-19, Minnesota Department of Health
- Important Notes: Fans are considered last resort. If the decision is made to use fans, they must be visibly clean at all times and on a routine cleaning schedule. All of the recommendations in the ventilation guidance document above should be done in consultation with the facility infection preventionist, and also ideally with an experienced HVAC professional
Request an infection prevention and control training or educational on-site visit from one of our infection preventionists
The Wisconsin HAI Prevention Program has experienced infection preventionists working in all regions of the state. If you or your facility has specific infection prevention and control questions or training needs, contact us!