Infection Control in Institutions

Wash your hands to stop the spread of germs. Handwashing is the simplest and most important thing that you can do to reduce the spread of germs. It keeps you and your clients from getting sick.

Handwashing resources

Facts about handwashing

Handwashing steps

• Version 1: English | French
• Version 2: English | French
• Version 3: English | French

Hand sanitizing steps 

• Version 1: English | French
• Version 2: English | French
• Version 3: English | French

Keeping Hands Clean video

Hand sanitizer video

Cleaning removes dirt, organic matter, and most germs. Cleaning alone does not kill harmful germs left behind. Clean all surfaces before disinfecting them. Disinfection kills most disease-causing germs that stay on surfaces.

• Facts about... Cleaning and Disinfection
• Read the label and follow the instructions

Visitor information during outbreaks

Visitors are encouraged to wait to visit until after the outbreak is over. You can catch the illness and pass it to other people in the institution. If your visit cannot be postponed, please speak with the facility for additional instructions before visiting. Please do not bring your children to visit during an outbreak.

Do not visit if you are sick or have:

• Fever
• Cough
• Sneezing
• Sore throat
• Runny nose
• Runny stool
• Vomiting
• Nausea

Clean your hands

Clean your hands with soap and water or use hand sanitizer if hands look clean.

When to clean your hands:

• As soon as you get there and leave.
• When you go into the person's room.
• Before you touch the person.
• When you leave the person's room.
• After you use the washroom.

If the person you are visiting is sick, only visit in their own room

• Do not take the person outside of their room.
• Sometimes the centre will ask you to wear gloves, gowns, masks or eye-wear when going into the room.

Only visit the one person and then leave right away.

Follow all the directions the centre gives you

• The centre is doing things to shorten the time it is in outbreak.
• What they want you to do may change, so always check.
• Read all the signs and posters that are up.

Stay up to date with your vaccinations

Protect yourself and your loved ones from infection.

Reportable diseases

Diseases of public health significance

Diseases of public health significance notification form

Helpful resources

• Video: Learn how to properly put on and remove personal protective equipment
• How to: Put on and take off personal protective equipment (PPE)
• Just clean your hands (JCYH)
• Cover your cough poster English | French
• Best practices documents (PIDAC)
• Additional precautions signage and lanyard cards (Public Health Ontario)
• Infection prevention and control - Online learning (Public Health Ontario)
• Respiratory viruses (including influenza) (Public Health Ontario)
• Gastroenteritis - Stool viruses (Public Health Ontario)