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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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Choosing the Right PPE for COVID-19

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.

Project Firstline also offers education resources related to infection control in health care settings in Spanish.


Additional resources


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!

Contact us!

Last revised March 15, 2024