Welcome to the IDSA/SHEA Infection Control Fellows Course

This online course was adapted from the Johns Hopkins 8th Annual Fellows Course on Hospital Epidemiology and Infection Control held in July of 2004. Additional lectures that were taped in July of 2006 have been added to Version 2 of the course. The Fellows Course is organized by the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions and the University of Maryland, the University of Virginia, Brown University, Wake Forest University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Washington University. The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) and the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) endorse the course. The online version of the course was developed through collaboration between IDSA, SHEA, and Johns Hopkins University. Please view the acknowledgments page for a list of IDSA and SHEA members who were involved in the development of this course.

About the Course

The course is designed to give infectious diseases fellows and others basic training in infection control. Lessons on epidemiology and infection control are given by world-renowned faculty from various specialties. After listening to the lessons and completing a pre- and post-test, participants will receive a certificate of completion. The recommended audience includes first- and second-year fellows in infectious diseases training programs, and pulmonary and critical care fellows, residents, and other practitioners interested in healthcare-acquired infections and antimicrobial resistance.

Learning Objectives

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To introduce the principles of counting/identifying healthcare-associated infections, organisms resistant to antimicrobial agents, or organisms that are epidemiologically important.

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To review their epidemiology, and the risk factors for developing colonization and infection.

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To review the data supporting important infection control and antibiotic management strategies for the types of infections and for certain epidemiologically important organisms.

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To be able to effectively respond to questions about exposure to communicable diseases and appropriate prevention and control strategies.

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To understand the impact that nosocomial infections have on patient safety.

For more comprehensive training in infection control and hospital epidemiology, consider also attending the SHEA/CDC Course in Hospital Epidemiology.