Infection Prevention and Control, Including Safe Motherhood Practices
Core concepts
Understand the chain of infection and standard precautions: hand hygiene, personal protective equipment, safe sharps handling, waste segregation, and environmental cleaning. Know the WHO five moments for hand hygiene and that alcohol-based rub is preferred for routine hand decontamination when hands are not visibly soiled.
Safe motherhood practices
Know the components of safe motherhood: antenatal care, skilled birth attendance, emergency obstetric care, clean and safe delivery, and postnatal care. Understand clean delivery practices - clean hands, clean surface, clean cord cutting and tying, and clean perineum - and their role in preventing puerperal sepsis and neonatal tetanus.
Specific infections
Know transmission and prevention of HIV, hepatitis B, syphilis, group B streptococcus, and tuberculosis. Understand post-exposure prophylaxis for HIV and hepatitis B, and the importance of sharps injury reporting.
Traps
Gloves do not replace hand hygiene. Do not recap needles. Distinguish sterilization (destroys all microorganisms including spores) from disinfection (reduces pathogens).
Rule of thumb
Perform hand hygiene before and after every woman contact and after glove removal; if hands are visibly soiled, wash with soap and water rather than using alcohol rub.