Introduction
NICU Infection Prevention Program focuses on preventing infections in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), where critically ill and preterm newborns are highly vulnerable due to immature immune systems, invasive devices, and prolonged hospital stays. Infections in NICUs are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, making rigorous infection prevention and control (IPC) practices essential.
This course emphasizes evidence-based strategies for infection prevention tailored to NICU workflows. It equips healthcare teams with practical knowledge and skills to reduce healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), protect newborns and staff, and ensure compliance with quality and accreditation standards.
Scope
This program covers infection prevention and control practices specific to NICUs, including:
- Infection risks unique to critically ill and preterm neonates
- Standard and transmission-based precautions in NICU settings
- Hand hygiene, aseptic technique, and barrier nursing
- Safe management of invasive devices (central lines, IV lines, ventilators)
- Environmental cleaning, disinfection, and safe handling of equipment
- Breast milk handling, feeding equipment hygiene, and nutrition safety
- Prevention and early recognition of sepsis and other neonatal infections
- Isolation, cohorting, and outbreak management
- Surveillance, reporting, and monitoring of HAIs in NICUs
- Staff safety, PPE usage, and exposure management
Objectives
By the end of the program, learners will be able to:
- Understand infection risks specific to NICU patients
- Apply IPC measures for critically ill and preterm neonates
- Prevent device- and procedure-related infections
- Maintain safe neonatal environments and workflows
- Detect early signs of infection and escalate care promptly
- Support breastfeeding and nutrition safety while minimizing infection risk
- Contribute to surveillance, reporting, and quality improvement
- Ensure adherence to NICU IPC protocols and accreditation standards
Who Can Enroll
This program is suitable for:
- NICU nurses and neonatal care staff
- Neonatologists and pediatricians
- Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) nurses and officers
- ICU and high-dependency unit staff caring for neonates
- Laboratory and microbiology staff supporting neonatal care
- Quality and patient safety teams
- Healthcare professionals involved in newborn intensive care
Study Content from TERRALEAP.COM
Learners receive structured study support through TERRALEAP.COM, including:
- Expert-led videos on infection prevention in NICUs
- Scenario-based learning covering high-risk neonatal workflows
- Guided explanations of device management, environmental hygiene, and staff protection
- Learning resources designed to reinforce safe, consistent NICU IPC practices