Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2011) . Guide to infection prevention for outpatient settings: minimum expectations for safe care. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/HAI/settings/outpatient/outpatient-care-guidelines.html

This document provides a summary guide of infection prevention recommendations for outpatient settings.

Guidelines  

Administrative recommendations:

• Provide job- or task-specific infection prevention education and training to all healthcare providers (HCPs), including those employed by outside agencies and those available by contract or on a volunteer basis to the positions. 
• Use soap and water when hands are visibly soiled (e.g., blood, bodily fluids) or after caring for patients with known or suspected infectious diarrhea (e.g., Clostridium difficile, norovirus). Otherwise, the preferred method of hand decontamination is with an alcohol-based hand rub.
• Use personal protective equipment.
• Clean, disinfect, and/or sterilize medical equipment. 
• Implement measures to contain respiratory secretions in patients and accompanying individuals who have signs and symptoms of a respiratory infection, beginning at the point of entry to the facility and continuing throughout the duration of the visit.

The guidelines represent the absolute minimum expectations for safe care. They are not all-encompassing, and organizations should refer to original source documents for detailed guidance and references.