When determining the type and duration of precautions for selected infections and conditions, as well as appropriate disinfectants for environmental cleaning, start with these resources: 

Then use the information on this webpage to learn how to implement the appropriate level of precautions needed. For any questions on appropriate precautions need for a specific infection or condition email hai-ar@hhs.iowa.gov. 

Standard Precautions

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) standard precautions are the minimum infection control safeguards used when caring for patients, whether they appear infectious or symptomatic. Standard precautions always apply in all healthcare locations.

Transmission-Based Precautions

Transmission-based precautions, the second tier of basic infection control, are used with standard precautions for patients who may harbor certain infectious agents requiring extra measures to prevent transmission.