Infection Prevention and Control Standards
For use within Canada
Health Standards Organization (HSO) and Accreditation Canada are providing complimentary access to a selection of resources to fight COVID-19.
Accreditation Canada's Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Standards provide a framework to plan, implement, and evaluate an effective IPC program based on evidence and best practices in the field. The literature shows that well-designed IPC programs are cost-effective because they reduce health care-associated infections, shorten the length of hospital stays, and decrease the cost of treating health care-associated infections.
The Accreditation Canada standards outline the key routine practices and additional precautions necessary for an effective IPC program, including:
- Point-of-care risk assessment
- Hand hygiene
- Aseptic techniques
- Personal protective equipment
- Cleaning and disinfection of the physical environment
- Handling waste and linen
Promoting a collaborative approach to protecting the safety of clients and staff, the Infection Prevention and Control Standards contain the following sections:
- Planning and Developing the IPC Program
- Implementing the IPC Program
- Evaluating the Impact of the IPC Program