High-Level Disinfection & Sterilization
From Michelle Doll
This course is part of our Intermediate Course in Infection Prevention and Control. See below for links to other modules!
Course Overview
The Virginia Infection Prevention Training Center’s intermediate module, High-level Disinfection and Sterilization, provides an in-depth review of high-level disinfection and sterilization practices essential for infection prevention professionals. Topics include disinfection methods, endoscope reprocessing, reliability of sterilization for reusable equipment, biofilm considerations, and current guidance for immediate-use sterilization. Learners will gain insight into practical applications to improve the safety and effectiveness of reprocessing workflows.
Target Audience
Target audience for this course are healthcare professionals who are or will be directly involved in infection prevention activities in their facilities. These are infection prevention professionals who have participated in and gained considerable knowledge through specialized infection and control training and have minimal to moderate practice or fieldwork experience with infection prevention and control concepts.
Audience examples: Advanced Beginner to Proficient Infection Preventionist, Advanced Beginner to Proficient HAI/AR/IPC staff, Novice to Proficient Healthcare/Public Health Epidemiologist, Infectious Disease /Antimicrobial Stewardship Program Pharmacist.
Overall Learning Objectives
- Describe methods of high-level disinfection (HLD)
- Assess and improve the reliability of HLD related to endoscopes
- Assess and improve the reliability of HLD related to invasive re-usable equipment, including consideration for biofilm formation and indications for steam sterilization
- Discuss best practices for immediate-use sterilization (formerly termed flash sterilization)
Continuing Education Credit
Continuing education (CE) credit is available for this course from 9/25/2023 to 9/25/2026. To claim credit, please watch this video in its entirety, then visit the VCU Continuing Medical Education activity page to obtain your credit.
How Did We Do?
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VIPTC’s Intermediate Course in Infection Prevention and Control
The Intermediate Course in Infection Prevention & Control is designed for those leading infection prevention efforts for their organizations and will focus on implementation science, epidemiologic methods for surveillance and basic biostatistical data analysis, interpretation of the literature for evidence-based practice, and leadership training.
Modules:
- Introduction to the Champions of Infection Prevention (CHIP) “Train-the-Trainer” Model
- Overview of Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs)
- Hand Hygiene Monitoring
- Outbreak Investigations
- Cleaning & Disinfection
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Isolation Precautions
- High-Level Disinfection & Sterilization
- Using Data to Drive Action
- Deploying a Champions of Healthcare Infection Prevention (CHIP) Program
- Environment of Care: Implementing and Monitoring an EOC Plan
- Hospital Antimicrobial Stewardship and Infection Prevention Programs: Harnessing the Synergy
- Prevention of Multidrug Resistant Organisms (MDROs)
- Prevention of Surgical Site Infections
- Prevention of Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections (CAUTIs)
- Prevention of Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections (CLABSIs)
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