Infection control and aseptic technique

In this talk, we turn our attention to infection control and aseptic technique framing our discussion around key concepts and practices in infection prevention, including the importance of hand hygiene, personal cleanliness, and proper use of personal protective equipment, PPE. We will discuss effective cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization of instruments and environments as well as the significance of aseptic technique. The lecture will emphasize the shared responsibility of all healthcare staff in upholding infection control standards to ensure safe, high quality care. Infection control is a cornerstone of safe medical practice protecting patients, staff, and the wider community. Effective strategies reduce infectious agent transmission, safeguard vulnerable groups, and preserve the effectiveness of medical interventions. With challenges like antibiotic resistance and emerging pathogens, it is essential to minimize risks. This lecture explores key principles and practices of effective infection prevention and highlights the crucial role everyone plays in controlling the spread of infection. Personal and hand hygiene are central to infection control as hands are common vehicles for pathogen transmission. Rigorous hand washing with soap and water or alcohol gels when appropriate is the most effective prevention. Wash hands before and after patient contact, after glove removal, after bodily fluid contact, and before aseptic procedures. Keep fingernails short, minimize jewelry,