The five pillars of infection prevention and control include: 1) Hand Hygiene; 2) Environmental Cleaning and Disinfection; 3) Vaccination and Immunization; 4) Infection Prevention and Control Practices; and 5) Surveillance, Investigation and Reporting.
1) Hand Hygiene: This is one of the most important aspects of infection prevention and control. It includes regular handwashing with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub. Hand hygiene helps reduce the spread of infection by removing dirt, germs, and bacteria from your hands.
2) Environmental Cleaning and Disinfection: This includes regular cleaning and disinfection of surfaces, equipment, and other items that may come into contact with people. This helps reduce the spread of infection by removing dirt, germs, and bacteria from these areas.
3) Vaccination and Immunization: Vaccines and immunizations help reduce the spread of infection by providing protection from certain illnesses. Vaccines and immunizations should be regularly updated to ensure that the patient is protected from the latest strains of disease.
4) Infection Prevention and Control Practices: These include practices such as wearing personal protective equipment (PPE), properly cleaning and disinfecting medical equipment, and following proper isolation and quarantine procedures. These practices help reduce the spread of infection and protect healthcare workers and patients.
5) Surveillance, Investigation and Reporting: This includes regularly monitoring for outbreaks of infection, investigating any potential cases of infection, and reporting any potential outbreaks to the relevant authorities. This helps to ensure that any potential outbreaks are identified and managed quickly and effectively.