Important: This page is general information, not medical advice. It does not recommend or prescribe any treatment. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting, stopping or changing any medicine.
About Infection Control
Every year, lives are lost because of the spread of infections in hospitals. Health care workers can take steps to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. These steps are part of infection control.
Proper hand washing is the most effective way to prevent the spread of infections in hospitals. If you are a patient, don't be afraid to remind friends, family and health care providers to wash their hands before getting close to you.
Other steps health care workers can take include:
- Covering coughs and sneezes
- Staying up to date with vaccinations
- Using gloves, masks and protective clothing
- Making tissues and hand cleaners available
- Following hospital guidelines when dealing with blood or contaminated items
It sits within Infections and Safety Issues.
The lead U.S. institute for this subject is the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
When to speak to someone. Reading about a topic cannot tell you whether it applies to you. Speak to a doctor or pharmacist if symptoms are severe, sudden, getting worse, or simply not going away — and seek emergency care immediately for chest pain, breathing difficulty, sudden weakness or confusion, or a serious allergic reaction.
Research on Infection Control
9,763 studies areregistered for this condition on ClinicalTrials.gov, the U.S. National Library of Medicine's public registry. A selection is below — the links go straight to the registry entry, not to a summary of ours.
What a registered study does and does not mean. Registration means a study exists and has been declared publicly. It says nothing about whether the treatment being tested works, is safe, or is available to you. Many studies find no benefit — that is what research is for. Never seek out an experimental treatment on the strength of a registry entry alone.
Research currently under way
- A Study to Evaluate the Use of Resmetirom in Participants With MASLD and HIVNaga P. Chalasani
- A Study on IB-001 Dose Response and Tolerability in Healthy Adults and Those With Chronic Hepatitis BIntegerBio
- BPL-1357 Against H1N1 Influenza Virus ChallengeNational Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
- Prophylactic Subcutaneous Drainage After Gynecologic Oncology Midline LaparotomyMahmut Yassa
- A Study to Investigate the Efficacy, Safety, and Tolerability of AZD4144in Participants With Sepsis-associated Acute Kidney Injury.AstraZeneca
- Safety and Immunogenicity of Recombinant Varicella Zoster Virus Vaccine in People With HIV Who Have a CD4 Count Less Than 300 or Greater Than or Equal to 300 and a Healthy Control PopulationNational Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Research already completed
- Phase I/II Clinical Trial of Influenza Vaccine (Split Virion), Inactivated (High Dose)Sinovac Biotech Co., Ltd
- A Study to Evaluate the Safety and Immunogenicity of mRNA-1975 and mRNA-1982 Against Lyme Disease in Participants 18 Through 70 Years of AgeModernaTX, Inc.
- A Safety and Immunogenicity of Intranasal Nanoemulsion Adjuvanted Recombinant Pandemic Flu Vaccine in Healthy AdultsBlueWillow Biologics
- A Study on the Safety and Immune Response to an mRNA-based RSV Investigational Vaccine in Healthy Adults Aged 18-45 YearsGlaxoSmithKline
- Dupilumab in CRSsNPSanofi
Study data from ClinicalTrials.gov, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved 2026-07-30. Registry entries are supplied by study sponsors and investigators; ClinicalTrials.gov does not verify their scientific validity. PocketsInfo is not affiliated with, and not endorsed by, the NLM or the NIH.
Where to read more
Rather than paraphrase, we point you to the primary sources. Every link below is to a government health agency, a national institute or a recognised medical body — grouped by what you are trying to find out.
Start Here
- Tips for Being a Safe PatientCenters for Disease Control and Prevention
Related Issues
- First Responders: Encourage Your Workers to Report Bloodborne Pathogen ExposuresNational Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
- Hospital-Wide Hazards: Biological Hazards -- Infectious DiseasesOccupational Safety and Health Administration
- Infection Control BasicsCenters for Disease Control and Prevention
- Safe Injection Practices and Your HealthCenters for Disease Control and Prevention
- Summary of Infection Prevention Practices in Dental Settings: Basic Expectations for Safe CareCenters for Disease Control and Prevention
Statistics and Research
- Healthcare-Associated Infections HAIs: Reports and DataCenters for Disease Control and Prevention
Clinical Trials
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Cross InfectionNational Institutes of Health
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Infection ControlNational Institutes of Health
Medical subject headings
Clinicians and researchers index this subject under Infection Control. These are the terms to use when searching medical literature.
This page is built from the MedlinePlus health topic record for Infection Control, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM), National Institutes of Health. Information is from MedlinePlus.gov. PocketsInfo is not affiliated with, and is not endorsed by, the NLM or the NIH. Retrieved 30 July 2026.