This free online epidemiology course explains how infection control and prevention curb the spread of disease.

This course explores modern infection prevention and control methods. It starts with an introduction to infection and infection control and lays out the different stages of infection spreading, often called the ‘chain of infection’. The prevention and control of infection in the workplace involves everyone. We describe the specific roles and responsibilities of the health department, employers and employees concerning the spread of disease.

We then discuss the microbiology involved in the cycle of infection and the different means of transmission. We study decontamination methods and standards used to classify products according to the level of danger associated with their use. The course then examines the relevant regulations, infection control policies and prescribed procedures and their implementation according to published guidelines. We also establish the necessity of infection risk assessment and management.

The next section emphasises the importance of personal protective equipment (PPE). We explain the impact of hazard assessments and discuss PPE legislation, the duties of employees regarding PPE and the requirement for PPE. We also describe the different types of such equipment and their practical uses in detail. The course’s final section focuses on person-to-person spread of infection. Sign up for this epidemiology course to learn about the external and internal variables that drive infection control practice, the chain of transmission and techniques to prevent and control infection.