Infection prevention and control (IPC) is the practice of preventing, detecting and controlling the spread of infections in health and social care. It includes hand hygiene, safe PPE use, cleaning, waste management and risk assessment to protect service users, staff and visitors from avoidable harm.

Cross-contamination is the transfer of harmful microorganisms between surfaces, equipment or hands, while cross-infection occurs when this transfer leads to an actual infection passing between people. Good hand hygiene, PPE use and cleaning routines help prevent both in care settings.

Standard precautions are the basic infection control measures used with everyone in care, regardless of known infection status. They include hand hygiene, appropriate PPE, safe handling of sharps and waste, and correctly cleaning equipment and surfaces to reduce transmission risk.

Hands should be washed before and after contact with each individual, before eating, after using the toilet, and after contact with bodily fluids or contaminated surfaces. Thorough washing with soap and water for around 20 seconds is one of the most effective ways to prevent infection.

Healthcare-associated infections are infections a person acquires while receiving care, rather than one present when that care began. UKHSA data shows HCAIs affected 7.6% of patients across NHS and independent healthcare settings in England in 2023, underlining why infection prevention and control matters.

This course supports compliance with Regulation 12 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 and the related Code of Practice on infection prevention. CQC doesn't approve individual courses, but expects providers to evidence appropriate staff training.