Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Education and Training

What is IPC Education and Training?

One of the most important strategies to reduce the risk of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and antimicrobial resistance (AR) is ensuring all healthcare personnel are trained in and understand the most up-to-date infection prevention and control (IPC) practices. In coordination with CDC and through ongoing work and initiatives like CDC’s Project Firstline, health department HAI/AR Programs play a crucial role in providing IPC guidance and resources to their healthcare workforce.

Health Department Activities

Educating and training infection prevention staff
As part of CDC’s HAI/AR Program, health department HAI/AR Programs complete a wide range of IPC-related education and training activities for healthcare settings and personnel, such as:

  • Improving healthcare workers’ knowledge of current IPC best practices and strategies through programs like Project Firstline
  • Coordinating IPC education activities with local health departments, academic institutions, and healthcare organizations
  • Conducting, analyzing, and leveraging findings from healthcare facility needs assessments to provide trainings that reflect gaps in knowledge
  • Participating in CDC’s Project Firstline Community of Practice
  • Providing continuing education credits to healthcare workforce training participants

 

Through supplemental funding provided by the American Rescue Plan Act, CDC awarded health departments with additional funding to engage, educate, and train healthcare workers in building their foundational knowledge of infection control through programs like Project Firstline. Project Firstline is a collaborative of diverse healthcare and public health partners that provides innovative and accessible infection control education to frontline U.S. healthcare workers as well as members of the public health workforce.

Resources for Health Departments

Explore Project Firstline educational resources and training materials.

Stay up to date on CDC’s training and educational resources for IPC.