These learning activities are offered by Infection Control Today/Virgo Publishing, LLC, a provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing.

All states except Iowa will accept these contact hours for nursing licensure purposes. For central sterile/sterile processing staff, the courses will be accepted by the CBSPD if they are specifically related to sterile processing. Surgical technologists and other healthcare-related occupations will need to check with their certifying bodies to determine if they will accept these contact hours.

= This course has an accompanying webinar

Course Instructions
1. Select a course
2. Complete registration
3. Study the material
4. Pass the post-test with a score of 80 percent or better
5. Print your certificate

ICIC-1110: A Three-Phase Perioperative Oral Care Protocol with Oral Care System Containing Chlorhexidine Gluconate and Ventilator Bundle Reduces VAP in Cardiac Surgery Patients

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a common complication of mechanical ventilation. Between 10 percent and 20 percent of patients who are intubated and receive mechanical ventilation develop VAP. The incidence is related to the duration of mechanical ventilation, with patients who are intubated more than 72 hours demonstrating incidence rates near 20 percent. This high incidence rate is of particular concern because the mortality rate is doubled in critically ill patients who develop VAP. In ICU patients of a private community teaching hospital, ventilated patients with VAP had mortality rates of 45.5 percent compared with 32.2 percent in ventilated patients without VAP.

An Unkind Cut: Preventing Infections in Surgery

Expires: 9/30/2013

An Unkind Cut: Preventing Infections in Surgery

Biofilms in Medicine: Patients Threatened by Highly Organized Militant Pathogens

Expires: 12/14/2013

Does the Glove Fit? Critical Considerations for the Selection of Medical Gloves - Continuing Education

Expires: 8/31/2013

The appropriate selection of medical gloves has never been more important as inappropriate selection can have a profound negative impact on patients, healthcare personnel, the environment and healthcare facilities. This educational program will address considerations for medical glove selection including their physical characteristics and associated complications as well as their environmental impact.

Getting Your Hands Around Hand Hygiene

Expires: 8/31/2013

Getting Your Hands Around Hand Hygiene

Healthcare-Associated Infection Prevention: Time for a New Paradigm?

Expires: 2/15/2013

Infection Prevention Imperatives: An Update for 2011

Expires: 2/15/2013

IP & ES: Perfect Together

Expires: 2/15/2013

Masks and Respirators 101: Know the Difference

Expires: 6/24/2013

Healthcare professionals face a myriad of potential occupational exposures to infectious agents and pathogenic microorganisms that are multidrug-resistant. Surgical masks and respirators are critical components of healthcare personal protective equipment that help protect healthcare providers and their patients from dangerous contaminants in all areas of the healthcare facility. Appropriate selection and use of surgical masks and respirators is critical to implementing Standard Precautions in the operating room and throughout the healthcare institution. The purpose of this article is to provide a review of the appropriate selection and use of masks and respirators in various practice settings.

Pandemic Preparedness in Healthcare: An Overview of Planning, Surveillance and Respiratory Protection

Expires: 10/1/2013

Preventing Central Line Complications

Expires: 8/30/2013

From preparation and insertion through fluid administration and dressings, there are many opportunities to introduce patient complications associated with Central Lines. Central Line-associated blood stream infections (CLABSIs), blood clots, air embolisms, vessel and tissue damage caused by toxic extravasation and several other adverse conditions that contribute significantly to patient morbidity and mortality can be largely prevented, or their impact reduced. Recent efforts focused on reducing CLABSIs have been remarkably successful for many, but only partially for others. Why? Once we understand the "how's and why's" not only for CLABSIs, but also for other preventable Central Line complications, we can implement effective preventative strategies that save lives and improve the quality of life for survivors.

Standard Precautions: Is Your Staff Really Protected? - Continuing Education

Expires: 8/31/2013

This program reviews the relevant changes and reaffirmations of Standard Precautions practice noted in the CDC’s 2007 Guideline for Isolation Precautions. The relationship between protective apparel and infection prevention is examined in light of OSHA as well as the AAMI gown barrier performance levels and criteria for protective apparel. In addition, system obstacles to the selection and use of appropriate protective apparel in the clinical setting will be discussed.

Strike Force: Preventing Transmissions

Expires: 10/31/2013

Strike Force: Preventing Transmissions

The Role of Sterile Processing in Infection Prevention

Expires: 2/15/2013

The Science Behind Alcohol-Based Handrubs

Expires: 9/8/2013

Unique Characteristics of Clostridium difficile, its Complications and the Strategies Required for its Prevention

Expires: 11/18/2013

Clostridium difficile is recognized as one of the most serious healthcare-associated infections occurring around the world today. Associated infections may be mild and resolve fairly rapidly after antibiotic cessation, or may be severe, lingering and life-threatening. Emergence of a new strain, increased virulence of the old pathogen, trending patient vulnerabilities, altered healthcare practices, new reservoirs, are all contributing to the aggressive success of this not-so-glamorous superbug. The purpose of this educational program is to discuss the impact of Clostridium difficile and to describe best practices and new technologies designed to prevent its transmission.