by C. Lyn Walter

Created on: November 05, 2009   Last Updated: December 25, 2009

Understanding the medical science behind Infection Control Measures

What is Infection Control and Prevention?

Infection Control is a professional specialty concerned with Epidemiology and the development and use of established, scientifically based procedures and protocols to prevent transmission of infection. Surveillance is used to identify the risk for transmission of infection in public health and health care facilities and strategies and interventions are based on proven statistical applications. Systems for prevention, containment and control must be continuously and scientifically analyzed, reassessed, reviewed and revised as indicated.

The medical science behind infection control measures is based on The Scientific Method, which consists of utilizing systematic steps to investigate and prove something is scientifically accurate. Infection Control and Prevention is a professional specialty grounded in Formulation of a hypothesis, data collection, observation, experiment, and testing for validity. Professional practice is Evidence-Based Practice; it is pragmatic and factual. It is based on proven and established tests for validity, as opposed to conjecture or adherence to outmoded, unsubstantiated or disproved hypotheses.

In essence, Infection Prevention and Control is a combination of clinical and professional expertise based on the best available evidence to support decisions regarding the prevention and control of infection in the world wide community and in health care. It is a collaboration of best practice disciplines who have as their goal, improved outcomes through a culture of safe practice.

The Scientific Method, Evidence Based Practice and Best Practice all depend on review and analysis of peer-reviewed research built on minimally biased collections of information using rigorous standards of protocols. It must finally be proven to be clinically significant.

With all of this said, it is almost impossible to measure the efficiency, efficacy or the eventual end result of the worldwide efforts to contain transmission of the H1N1 Novel Influenza. There are statistics upon statistics, guidelines, recommendations and mandates, regarding the seasonal and H1N1 vaccines, who should take the vaccines and in what order. Unfortunately, both vaccines may be in short supply, unavailable or on back order in many areas of the US, let alone the rest of the world. Respiratory infections are highly contagious where there is human and environmental crowding The flu vaccine is the single most effective way to avoid infection with any influenza but they are not 100 percent effective if taken; if not taken they are useless and the public must depend on the usual prevention tactics such as hand hygiene, hand sanitizers for environmental surfaces and respiratory distancing from infected people.

Infection Preventionists will do their best to follow the advance practice recommendations of their national professional organizations such as; The Departments of Health Services, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and State and local authorities such as OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration). If the vaccines are not immediately available, preparing to avoid exposure is the next best strategy. Cover your cough, wash your hands frequently, and distance yourself from those with signs and symptoms of respiratory infection. When vaccines become available, check with your health care provider to confirm you and your family members are appropriate candidates for vaccination.

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