In hospitals, clinicians must consistently prioritize infection control and prevention to protect not only patients, but colleagues and themselves as well. Since December is National Handwashing Awareness Month, now is an excellent time to reflect on the critical importance of infection prevention practices in reducing infection rates in hospital settings.
Regularly reviewing and applying evidence-based guidelines for sterilization, disinfection, and other infection prevention measures ensures that hospital clinicians remain equipped to enhance patient safety and optimize clinical outcomes. Integrating these practices into daily workflows reinforces a culture of healthcare safety, contributing to improved patient outcomes.
Today, we have a rundown of some of the latest hospital infection prevention guidelines and consensus statements from North American and international medical societies.
Hospital Infection Prevention Guidance
- Multisociety Guidance for Sterilization and High-Level Disinfection
- American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE), Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA), Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), April 2025
- Necessary Resources and Structure for Effective Healthcare Facility Infection Prevention and Control Programs
- Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society (PIDS), Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA), Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), April 2025
- Rituals and Behaviours in the Operating Theatre
- European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID), October 2023
- Strategies to Prevent Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections in Acute-Care Hospitals
- Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA), August 2023
- Implementing Strategies to Prevent Infections in Acute-Care Settings
- Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA), July 2023
- Strategies to Prevent Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Transmission and Infection in Acute-Care Hospitals
- Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA), June 2023
- Strategies to Prevent Surgical Site Infections in Acute-Care Hospitals
- Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA), May 2023
- Strategies to Prevent Clostriodioides difficile Infections in Acute-Care Hospitals
- Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA), April 2023
- Strategies to Prevent Healthcare-Associated Infections: Hand Hygiene
- Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA), February 2023
- Strategies to Prevent Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated Events, and Nonventilator Hospital-Aquired Pneumonia in Acute-Care Hospitals
- Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA), June 2022
- Strategies to Prevent Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections in Acute-Care Hospitals
- Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA), April 2022
- Prevention of Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
- Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA), March 2022
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