The IPC chapter focuses on establishing a comprehensive infection prevention and control programme to protect patients, staff, and visitors from healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). It requires the organization to design and implement a structured, evidence-based infection control programme addressing surveillance, prevention, and control of infections across all clinical and non-clinical areas.

This chapter covers hand hygiene practices, isolation precautions, sterilization and disinfection processes, safe injection practices, biomedical waste management, and outbreak identification and management. It emphasizes building an organization-wide culture of infection prevention supported by trained staff, defined protocols, and continuous monitoring

• The organization has a structured, evidence-based infection prevention and control programme with defined goals and scope.
• Hand hygiene practices are implemented, monitored, and reinforced across all staff categories.
• Sterilization, disinfection, and reprocessing of instruments follow standardized, validated protocols.
• Surveillance mechanisms track healthcare-associated infections and support timely corrective action.
• Biomedical waste segregation and disposal comply with regulatory and safety requirements.

All Healthcare Professionals and Workforce