APIC Implementation guides
APIC Implementation Guides provide practical, evidence-based strategies for surveillance and the elimination of infection. Each guide includes online tools and resources.
Available Guides:
NEW: Infection Preventionist’s Guide to the OR
APIC’s New Implementation Guide: Infection Preventionist’s Guide to the OR
Surgical site infections (SSIs) are a frequent complication of surgical care and are associated with significant morbidity, mortality, and cost. The infection preventionist (IP) has an important role in SSI prevention beyond SSI surveillance. To support IPs in this role, APIC has developed Infection Preventionist’s Guide to the OR, which covers critical and evidence-based strategies to equip the IP in working collaboratively with multi-disciplinary teams to prevent SSIs.
To download the PDF of NEW: Infection Preventionist’s Guide to the OR, please provide us with your contact information.
Guide to Preventing Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections
This implementation guide outlines practices that are core to central line-associated bloodstream infection prevention efforts, demonstrates application through associated tools and resources, and provides information that augments existing evidence-based guidelines. Chapter topics include:
- Epidemiology and Pathogenesis
- Surveillance
- Adherence to the Central Line Bundle
- Preventing Infections during Catheter Maintenance
- Preventing Infection during Long-Term Device Use
To download the PDF of Guide to Preventing Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections, please provide us with your contact information.
Guide to Hand Hygiene Programs for Infection Prevention (2015)
The purpose of this guide is to provide an overview of hand hygiene programs and their key components. In addition to a valuable Resources section, chapters include topics such as:
- Regulatory oversight and public reporting
- Hand Hygiene products
- Hand Hygiene monitoring
- Program implementation
- Strategies for Behavior change
To download the PDF of Guide to Hand Hygiene Programs for Infection Prevention, please provide us with your contact information.
Guide to Preventing Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections (2014)
This newly revised Guide provides infection preventionists with new and expanded content on preventing CAUTI, including:
- Expanded content on the epidemiology and pathogenesis of CAUTI, surveillance, and reporting
- New content addresses patient safety, CUSP, and other behavioral models for prevention
- New content on CAUTI prevention in special populations: pediatrics, spinal cord injury, long-term care, and ICU
- More than twice the number of figures, tables and other examples compared to 2008 edition
- New case studies showcase success stories
To download the PDF of Guide to Preventing Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections (2014), please provide us with your contact information.
Guide to Preventing Clostridium difficile Infections (2013)
Best practices for IPs and anyone who cares for patients with C. difficile or in facilities with patients who are being treated for C. difficile infections (CDI). Includes:
- Pathogenesis and changing epidemiology of CDI
- Diagnosis and surveillance
- Prevention strategies including hand hygiene and environmental controls
- Special considerations for skilled nursing and pediatrics
- Antimicrobial stewardship
- Emerging technologies and therapies
- Tools and additional resources
To download the PDF of Guide to Preventing Clostridium Difficile Infections (2013), please provide us with your contact information.
Guide to Infection Prevention in Emergency Medical Services (2013)
Provides an overview of infection prevention best practices for emergency medical services (EMS) system responders. Includes:
- The role of infection prevention in patient and EMS system responder safety
- Infection prevention standards, regulations, and best practices applicable to EMS setting
- Overview of epidemiology and pathogenesis of communicable diseases in EMS setting
- Instruction, examples, and tools to perform surveillance, develop an exposure control plan with post-exposure management, and conduct risk assessments
- Emergency, disaster, and bioterrorism preparedness
- Forms and templates for infection prevention education, training, and compliance monitoring
To download the PDF of Guide to Infection Prevention in Emergency Medical Services (2013), please provide us with your contact information.
Guide to the Elimination of Infections in Hemodialysis (2010)
Best practices for keeping hemodialysis patients safe from infection, including:
- Infection prevention in hemodialysis
- Environmental and equipment cleaning/disinfection
- Vascular access protection
- PPE guidelines for standard precautions in hemodialysis
- Hepatitis B infection isolation/precautions transmission-based precautions
- Surveillance methodology for dialysis infections
- Employee health
To download the PDF of Guide to Infection Prevention in Emergency Medical Services (2013), please provide us with your contact information.
Guide to the Elimination of Methicillin-Resistant Staphyloccus aureus (MRSA) Transmission in Hospital Settings, 2nd Edition (2010)
Practice guidance for the elimination of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) transmission in hospital settings, including:
- MRSA risk assessment
- MRSA surveillance methodology
- Environmental and equipment decontamination
- Best practice recommendations
- Antimicrobial stewardship
- Antibiogram development and laboratory testing
- MRSA decolonization
To download the PDF of Guide to the Elimination of Infections of Methicillin-Resistant Staphyloccus sureus (MRSA) Transmission in Hospital Settings, 2nd Edition (2010), please provide us with your contact information.
Guide to the Elimination of Multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii Transmission in Healthcare Settings (2010)
Summary of the latest studies, outbreak experiences, applicable guidelines, and tools to manage and eliminate transmission of multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (MDR Ab) in healthcare settings:
- Risk assessment
- Surveillance
- Antibiotic stewardship/antibiograms
- Standard precautions
- Transmission-based precautions
- Outbreak recognition and control
- Special settings
To download the PDF of Guide to the Elimination of Multi-drug Acinetobacter baumannii Transmission in Healthcare Settings (2010), please provide us with your contact information.
Guide to the Elimination of Orthopedic Surgical Site Infections (2010)
Practical tools, strategies, and resources for infection preventionists, care providers, surgical staff and quality improvement teams; developed with the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN):
- Surveillance
- Outcome reports
- Surgical Care Improvement Project (SCIP) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) value-based purchasing
- Preoperative preparation
- Perioperative settings
- Postoperative periods
To download the PDF of Guide to the Elimination of Orthopedic Surgical Site Infections (2010), please provide us with your contact information.
Guide to the Elimination of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in the Long-Term Care Facility (2009)
Comprehensive strategies for eliminating MRSA across the entire spectrum of long-term care (LTC) facilities:
- Risk assessment
- Surveillance cultures
- Management of MRSA-positive residents
- Standard/contact precautions
- Environmental and equipment cleaning and disinfection
- Antimicrobial management and stewardship in LTC
- Colonization and decolonization
To download the PDF of Guide to the Elimination of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in The Long-Term Care Facility (2009), please provide us with your contact information.
Guide to the Elimination of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Transmission in Hospital Settings – California Supplement (2009)
Created to provide California-based hospitals and other healthcare providers with the most recent scientific and regulatory information, including:
- Current California MRSA guidelines
- Local or county guidelines
- Reporting requirements
- Legislative mandates
- Licensing and certification requirements
To download the PDF of Guide to the Elimination of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Transmission in Hospital Settings – California Supplement (2009), please provide us with your contact information.
Guide for the Prevention of Mediastinitis Surgical Site Infections Following Cardiac Surgery (2008)
Strategies to help infection preventionists minimize the risk of mediastinitis following cardiac surgery procedures:
- Risk factors
- Program interventions
- Mediastinitis prevention recommendations
- Cardiac surgery surveillance methodology
- Process improvement opportunities
To download the PDF of Guide for the Prevention of Mediastintis Surgical Site Infections Following Cardiac Surgery (2008), please provide us with your contact information.
