Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC)

Education for All Healthcare Workers Policy

IPAC Education for All Healthcare Workers Policy – updated Feb/24 (pdf)

Supporting the adoption and maintenance of safe and effective IPAC practices at healthcare organizations through consistent, ongoing, evidence-based IPAC educations for all healthcare workers.

IPAC Education / Courses

IPAC Core Competencies (LINK)
Public Health Ontario

• Free and online, basic IPAC education recommended for all Healthcare Workers

COVID-19 IPAC Fundamentals Training (LINK)
Public Health Ontario

• Tailored online IPAC education for staff, families, and residents of Congregate Living Organizations.

Post-Graduate IPAC Courses

• Comprehensive, foundational IPAC Courses for individuals most responsible for IPAC at their organization. Note: These courses alone will not provide you with Certification in infection Control
• IPAC Canada (LINK)
• Centennial College (LINK)
• Queen’s University (LINK)  
• University of British Columbia (LINK) 
• Bay River College (LINK)  

IPAC Certification (CIC) (LINK)
Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology

• An internationally recognized designation demonstrating professional competency in infection prevention and control.
• Certification requires a specific professional designation. If you do not meet the requirements to pursue your CIC, consider the Associate – Infection Prevention and Control
  

Additional Courses

• Preventing and Controlling Infections in Non-Acute Care Settings (LINK)
  Centennial College
• Infection Prevention and Control Routine Practices (LINK)
  Georgian College/IPAC Canada

Healthy Workplace Policy – updated Feb/24 (pdf)

Healthcare worker controls, such as immunizations, respiratory etiquette, and staying home when sick, are required to create a safe and healthy environment, and to reduce the risk of transmission of infection.  

Healthy Workplace Resources

Recommended Vaccines for Healthcare Workers (LINK)
National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI)

Respiratory Etiquette  (LINK)

Hand Hygiene Policy – updated Feb/24 (pdf)

To prevent the spread of infection within healthcare facilities by supporting and promoting effective hand hygiene practices by everyone in the environment. 

Videos

Just Clean Your Hands (How to Hand Wash and How to Hand Rub) Videos (LINK)
Public Health Ontario

Posters

How to Hand Wash (LINK)
Public Health Ontario

How to Hand Rub (LINK)
Public Health Ontario

Hand Hygiene Audit Tools

Long Term Care Home Observation Tool (LINK)

Hospital Observation Tool (LINK)

Routine Practices and Additional Precautions Policy – updated Feb 2024 (pdf)

Adhering to consistent, safe standards of practice at all times, and implementing extra precautions in high risk situations, will prevent the spread of infection between healthcare workers, patients, clients, and others in the healthcare environment.

Posters

Additional Precautions (Isolation) Signs (LINK)
Public Health Ontario

• Contact, Droplet Contact, Airborne Isolation

Steps for Putting on and Removing PPE (donning and doffing) (LINK)
CDC

• Note: Example 1 is for cloth gowns, Example 2 is for disposable gowns

Recommended Steps: Putting on /Taking off PPE (donning and doffing) (LINK)
Public Health Ontario

Videos

Donning and Doffing PPE (LINK)
Public Health Ontario

Donning and Doffing PPE (LINK)
CDC

Documents

Clinical Syndromes/Conditions with Required Level of Precautions  (LINK)
PIDAC

• Use this document to determine isolation precautions based on diagnosis.

Routine Practices and Additional Precautions in All Health Care Settings (LINK)
PIDAC

• Best Practice document

Sharps Safety Policy – updated Feb/24 (pdf)

To protect healthcare workers and others in the healthcare environment from blood-borne infectious diseases by reducing the risk of sharps injuries through safe work practices and the use of safety engineered medical devices.

Sharps Safety Resources

A Planning Guide to the Implementation of Safety Engineered Medical Sharps (LINK)
Public Services Health and Safety (PSHSA)

Ontario Regulation on Needle Safety (LINK)

• Needle Safety, Ontario Reg. 474/07

Exposure to Blood and Body Fluids Policy – updated Feb/24 (pdf)

To provide guidance for the management of potential exposures to blood borne pathogens, such as Hepatitis B (HBV), Hepatitis C (HCV), and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), for in anyone in the healthcare environment.

Educational Resources

Mandatory Blood Testing Act Application forms:

• Form 1: Physician Report (LINK)
• Form 2: Applicant Report (LINK)

Blood precautions after exposure (LINK)
HealthLinkBC

Safe Handling of Waste and Linen Policy – updated Feb/24 (pdf)

To protect individuals in the healthcare environment from exposure to infectious pathogens and to prevent transmission of infection through the contact with, and handling of, contaminated waste, linen and other materials.

Waste and Linen Handling Resources

Transport of Dangerous Goods (TDG) Overview (LINK)
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS)

Best Practices for Environmental Cleaning (LINK)
PIDAC

Cleaning and Disinfection Policy – updated Feb/24 (pdf)

To create a safe and healthy environment and to reduce the risk of transmission of infection between healthcare workers, clients/patients/residents, family members and others in the healthcare environment through cleaning and disinfection. 

Educational Resources

Sample Cleaning Procedures based on Clinical Area (LINK)
PIDAC

Chlorine Dilution Calculator (LINK)
Public Health Ontario

How to Prevent Skin Damage from Cleaning Products (LINK)
Public Health Ontario

Best Practices for Environmental Cleaning (LINK)
PIDAC

Best Practices for Cleaning, Disinfection and Sterilization in All Health Care Settings (LINK)
PIDAC

• Information on high-level disinfection and sterilization of medical equipment