Time to complete: Approximately 30 minutes
About this Course
Break the Chain of Transmission: IPAC Core Concepts and Practices is the first course in the IPAC eLearning series. It is the prerequisite for the scenario-based courses in the IPAC series, which apply the knowledge and skills acquired in Course 1.
In this course, you will learn
- how micro-organisms cause infection
- what the different types of transmission are
- what the links in the chain of transmission are
- what to do to break the links of contact, droplet and airborne transmission
- how to follow the instructions on precautions signs (e.g., droplet, contact and airborne
precaution signs). - how to conduct an infection prevention and control personal risk assessment
- when and how to practice hand hygiene
- when and how to put on (don) and take off (doff) personal protective equipment (PPE)
You will receive an Ontario CLRI certificate for completing this course.
Who is this course for?
This course is for long-term care team members and essential caregivers. It recognizes essential caregivers as partners in providing care to their friends and family members who are LTC home residents. Essential caregivers were part of the advisory group for the IPAC eLearning series.
You will also be able to apply what you learn to other healthcare settings.
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank the people who contributed to the development and review of content for this course:
Subject Matter Experts
Francine Paquette, BASc, CIPHI(C), CIC, Director, Infection Prevention & Control, peopleCare Communities
Catherine Richard, PT CIC, Regional IPAC Specialist, Public Health Ontario
Eva Skiba, RN, BScN (Hons.), CIC, GNC, Regional IPAC Specialist, Public Health Ontario
Course Reviewers
MaryAnn Glasier, RN, MSc, GNC(c), Nurse Consultant – Nurse Led Outreach Team, St. Joseph’s Health Centre Guelph
Nicole Guy, RN, BScN, MN, Nurse Consultant – Nurse Led Outreach Team, St. Joseph’s Health Centre Guelph
The IPAC eLearning series was developed in collaboration with an expert panel of IPAC specialists with experience working in LTC, as well as an advisory panel of LTC team members, essential caregivers, and The Ontario Caregiver Organization.
Credits
The hand-drawn graphic elements in the course were created by Susan Spencer Gervais.
Barb Sutcliffe, RN, BA demonstrated how to don and doff PPE in the instructional videos.
Additional Precautions signage was developed by Public Health Ontario. (Source: https://www.publichealthontario.ca/en/health-topics/infection-prevention-control/routine-practices-additional-precautions/additional-precautions-signage)
References
Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion, Provincial Infectious Diseases Advisory. (2012). Routine practices and additional precautions in all health care settings (3rd ed.). Queen’s Printer for Ontario. https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/documents/b/2012/bp-rpap-healthcare-settings.pdf?la=en
Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion (Public Health Ontario). (2011). Your 4 moments for hand hygiene. Queen’s Printer for Ontario. https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/documents/9/2008/4-moments-poster-series.pdf?la=en
Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion (Public Health Ontario). (2014). Best practices for hand hygiene in all health care settings (4th ed.). Queen’s Printer for Ontario. https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/documents/B/2014/bp-hand-hygiene.pdf?la=en
Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion (Public Health Ontario). (2020). Infection Prevention and Control for Long-Term Care Homes. Queen’s Printer for Ontario. https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/documents/i/2021/ipac-ltch-principles-best-practices.pdf