Implementation Guides

The purpose of this implementation guide is to provide information and tools to reduce the risk of infection due to catheter-associated bloodstream infections in various practice settings for adults. It condenses evidence-based guidelines into key elements needed to mitigate risks and implement performance improvement processes. The implementation guide includes recommendations intended to be achievable and … Continue reading “NEW: Guide to Preventing Catheter-Associated Bloodstream Infections in Adults (2025)”

This implementation guide provides key tools and evidence-based strategies to reduce infection risks from indwelling urinary catheters. It condenses guidelines into actionable elements for risk mitigation and performance improvement, supporting policy and protocol development across practice settings.

This guide replaces the 2010 version and includes the fundamentals for understanding kidney disease, standard and transmission-based precautions, and best practices for keeping hemodialysis patients safe from infection. The guide includes information on peritoneal dialysis, home dialysis, special population and emergency preparedness for dialysis settings.

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. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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