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Educational Brochures

APIC works to provide information to both the general public and healthcare professionals. The brochures on this page are regularly reviewed and updated as needed to insure that the information provided is current. These materials are available for you to download, copy and distribute free of charge.

Consumers

These pamphlets are intended to provide a general reference to each topic. No brochure can adequately diagnose a medical condition. If in doubt regarding your symptoms, please contact a healthcare professional.

Table of Contents

10 tips for Preventing the Spread of Infection
This one-page flyer about infection prevention is ideal for patients, their families, and other healthcare consumers. ©2005.

Antibiotic Safety
Antibiotics are powerful in fighting infection, if used correctly. There are many misconceptions and concerns surrounding antibiotic use that this brochure can explain. It discusses the types of germs that cause infections, how to properly communicate with doctors, and potential side effects. ©2002. Revised July 2005.

Chlamydia
Infections caused by Chlamydia trachomatis are now recognized as the most prevalent and are among the most damaging of all sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) seen in the United States today. An estimated 34 million Americans suffer from a chlamydial infection each year. Men, women, and infants are affected, but women bear an inordinate burden because of their increased risk for adverse reproductive consequences. ©2002. Revised July 2005.

Companion Animals and Your Health
This pamphlet discusses issues related to companion animals (pets), including tips for reducing the risk of zoonotic disease. ©2002. Revised July 2005.

Disinfection and Sterilization Principles
A handy reference for ICPs and support services personnel describing the difference between cleaning processes (cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization) and device classification (critical, semi-critical, and non-critical). Also covers special processing for Hepatitis B Virus, HIV, and Creutzfeld-Jakob Disease Agent. ©1998. Revised July 2005.

Food Safety in Your Home 
This two-sided brochure on food safety was developed for distribution to the general public. The brochure reviews misconceptions, food safety facts, steps to keep food safe, and the causes of foodborne illness. The brochure can be copied for distribution free of charge. ©2000. Revised July 2005.

Glove Information for Healthcare Workers
This pamphlet educates healthcare workers on the proper use of gloves, including when to wear or not to wear gloves; latex vs. vinyl gloves; storage of gloves; selecting the right gloves for the task; activities that put a healthcare worker at risk; and more. ©2003. Revised July 2005.

Hand Hygiene for Consumers
Germs are most easily spread through hand contact, and one of the best ways to stop their spread is to wash or decontaminate your hands. Hand Hygiene for Consumers explains when and how to wash your hands and when and how to use alcohol handrubs. The brochure also offers information about the skin, an important barrier against harmful irritants and germs, and how to protect it from dryness. Infection Control Week Brochure. ©2003. Revised July 2005.

Hand Hygiene for Healthcare Workers
For over 150 years, scientists have associated decreased morbidity and mortality rates with the simple practice of cleaning one’s hands. Hand Hygiene for Healthcare Workers spells out hand hygiene recommendations and techniques, including the proper use of plain or antimicrobial soap and alcohol-based handrubs. The brochure also contains a list of important hand hygiene tips and a glossary of terms. Infection Control Week Brochure. ©2003. Revised July 2005.

Healthy Skin: An Ounce of Prevention for Your Frontline on Defense  
A clinician’s intact skin is his or her first line of defense against microorganisms, chemicals and other fluids. Improved adherence to hand hygiene practices and skin wellness may significantly impact patient outcomes and occupational health. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s “Guideline for Hand Hygiene in Healthcare Settings” provides significant evidence that addressing skin dermatitis is a critical healthcare issue. As a result, there has been a great deal of interest in new glove products and other products that contain additives known to moisturize or otherwise benefit the skin. Made possible by a grant from Cardinal Health. ©2004. Revised July 2005.

Hepatitis A (HAV)
This pamphlet reviews who is at risk, and provides a description, symptoms, prevention and treatment, and resources for additional information. ©2002. Revised July 2005.

Hepatitis B (HBV)
This pamphlet reviews who is at risk, and provides a description, symptoms, prevention and treatment, and resources for additional information. ©2002. Revised July 2005.

Hepatitis C (HCV)
Hepatitis C is a disease caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). The disease affects your liver and can cause chronic liver disease. Almost four million people in the U.S. have been infected with HCV. This brochure includes helpful information, such as the basics of infection, symptoms, ways of protecting yourself and others from HCV infection, and where to go for testing. ©2001. Revised July 2005.

How to Dine Out Safely
Cost, atmosphere and taste are important when eating in a restaurant, but they are not nearly as important as food safety. This brochure educates consumers to recognize the signs of a dirty eating establishment, to identify the symptoms of food poisoning, and what to do to if afflicted from eating contaminated foods. ©2002. Revised July 2005.

Infection Control Tips on Handwashing
This informative one-page flyer gives helpful tips for healthcare professionals and is ideal for staff education. ©2005.

Infection Prevention Guidelines: What You Need to Know if You are Prescribed a TNF-Alpha Blocker
Frequently asked questions about tuberculosis.

Immunization Information for International Travelers
Learn how to prepare for travel abroad, including immunizations, specific travel vaccines, and international health regulations. ©2000. Revised July 2005.

International Travel Health References and Resources
Use this valuable list to find information to prepare for travel abroad, including immunizations, specific travel vaccines, and international health regulations. ©2000. Revised July 2005.

Los Hechos Sobre Chlamydia (Spanish)
Tres milliones de personas se infectan con Chlamydia cada ano. Conoce Usted sus riesgos? ©2001. Revised July 2005.

Meningococcal Meningitis
This pamphlet discusses the incidence, early symptoms, transmittal, and risk factors for meningococcal meningitis. It also addresses the availability of vaccine and recommendations for college students. ©2002. Revised July 2005.

Mold in Your Home
Everyone can be exposed to mold. Healthy people are often unaffected. People diagnosed with allergies and asthma maybe very sensitive to molds. ©2001. Revised July 2005.

Multiple Drug Resistant Bacteria Prevention and Control
A look at the special concerns involved in treating multiple drug resistant organisms. Includes brief descriptions of common resistant organisms and how resistance develops, patient risk factors, modes of transmission, and infection prevention and control measures. A good information source for healthcare workers and patients undergoing antibiotic therapy. ©1998. Revised July 2005.

Patient Safety: Protecting Yourself from Medical Errors
Patient safety is one of the nation's most pressing healthcare challenges. Medical errors are a leading cause of death and injury. A recent report by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) estimates that as many as 44,000-98,000 people die in U.S. hospitals each year as the result of lapses in patient safety. This means that more people die from medical errors than from motor vehicle accidents, breast cancer, or AIDS. Preventable healthcare-related injuries cost the economy $17-29 billion annually. ©2001. Revised July 2005.

Pneumococcal Disease - Are You at Risk? This fact sheet provides information on pneumonia, who should be vaccinated, statistics on disease occurrences in the United States, available vaccines, possible side effects, and revaccination information. A resource list is included. ©2003. Revised July 2005.

Preventing Infection During Your Chemotherapy Treatment
While chemotherapy successfully kills many cancer cells, it is also capable of killing blood cells that help fight infections. Preventing Infection During Your Chemotherapy Treatment warns against the conditions that put a strain on the immune system, such as dining out or dehydration and advises the use of certain techniques to help the immune system stay strong. ©2002. Revised July 2005.

Preventing Ventilator Associated Pneumonia
Healthcare-associated pneumonia is the most deadly form of hospital-acquired infection. Patients receiving mechanical ventilation are especially at risk. Intubated patients are approximately 20 times more likely to develop pneumonia than non-intubated patients. The endotracheal tube interferes with normal patient defenses and allows pathogens direct access to the lung. Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) continues to occur in 8 to 28% of this vulnerable population. VAP accounts for 60% of all deaths attributed to hospital-acquired infections. This valuable brochure provides the epidemiology of VAP, mortality figures and costs associated with the disease, as well as prevention strategies. ©2005.

Prevent Needlesticks
The most frequent cause of bloodborne infections in healthcare settings is a "needlestick" injury with a needle or other sharp device. Any healthcare worker handling sharp devices or equipment such as scalpels, sutures, hypodermic needles, blood collection devices, or phlebotomy devices is at risk of occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens. According to NIOSH, it is estimated that 600,000 needlestick injuries (NSIs) occur annually in the hospital setting. Educate the health care workers in your facility with this informative pamphlet. ©2000. Revised July 2005.

Respiratory Etiquiette: An Important Cultural Change
Communicable respiratory diseases have the capacity to spread rapidly by respiratory droplets. Most are also transmitted by contact with these secretions followed by touching the nose, mouth or eyes. This brochure gives healthcare personnel important tips on measures to prevent the spread of respiratory diseases. ©2005.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a virus that can cause infection of the upper and lower respiratory tracts in people of all ages. The infection can be minor, producing cold-like symptoms or major, resulting in pneumonia or bronchiolitis (inflammation of the small air passages). The brochure includes disease basics; groups at risk for the disease; testing, treatment and prevention strategies; and discussion of RSV vaccination. ©2002. Revised July 2005.

Scarlet Fever
Scarlet fever is a "strep-throat" infection. People with scarlet fever also have a bright red rash. Sometimes you will hear it called scarlatina. ©2001. Revised July 2005.

Traveling Overseas - Tips on How to Avoid Infection
All travelers need an overview of ways to reduce risk of acquiring illness when traveling internationally. Topics include general water information, treatment of water, food choices, risks during recreation (such as swimming) as well as general healthful hints. ©2001. Revised July 2005.

Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha Antagonists
A growing class of treatments for autoimmune diseases.

Viral Meningitis
This handy brochure on Viral Meningitis explains the causes, symptoms, and treatment of this fairly common and rarely fatal disease that causes swelling of the tissues that cover the brain and spinal cord. ©2002. Revised July 2005.

West Nile Virus
West Nile virus (WNV) has emerged in recent years in temperate regions of Europe, Africa, Israel, and North America, presenting a threat to public health, equine health, and since 1999, the health of bird populations. The most serious manifestation of infection is fatal encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) in humans and horses, as well as mortality in certain domestic and wild birds. ©2001. Revised July 2005.

Your Patient has Respiratory Symptoms - So What?
This important brochure gives healthcare workers a brief history of respiratory infections as well as the droplet and airborne precautions necessary to contain their spread. ©2005.