Infection Prevention: Simple Ways to Stop Germs from Spreading

When it comes to infection prevention, the practice of stopping harmful germs from spreading and causing illness. Also known as infection control, it’s not just for hospitals—it’s something you do every time you wash your hands before eating or wipe down a doorknob after someone coughs. It’s the quiet, daily work that keeps you from catching the flu, avoids a wound turning infected, and stops a minor cold from becoming a hospital stay.

Hand hygiene, the most basic and effective tool in infection prevention. Also known as handwashing, it’s not about scrubbing for 20 seconds because someone told you to—it’s about removing the germs you picked up from shaking hands, touching public surfaces, or adjusting your mask. Disinfectants, chemicals that kill germs on surfaces. Also known as surface cleaners, they’re not just for clinics. Wiping your phone, light switches, or kitchen counters with the right product cuts transmission risk by half. And then there’s personal protective equipment, the gear that blocks germs from reaching your skin or breathing passages. Also known as PPE, it’s not just masks and gloves—it’s goggles, gowns, and even proper shoe covers when you’re around someone with a serious infection. These aren’t fancy terms. They’re tools you already use, just not always with the right purpose.

Some of the most dangerous infections spread because people think they’re safe—like skipping handwashing after using the bathroom, reusing a wipe that’s already dirty, or assuming a mask works even if it’s loose. The truth? Infection prevention works when it’s simple, consistent, and done right. You don’t need a degree in microbiology. You need to know what germs cling to, how they move, and how to break that chain.

Below, you’ll find real, practical guides on what actually helps—like how to use antiseptics without irritating your skin, why some disinfectants don’t kill the germs you think they do, and how to spot when a medication might be making you more vulnerable to infection. These aren’t theory pieces. They’re the kind of advice people use after their kid got sick from a daycare, or after a relative ended up in the hospital from a simple wound. You’ll learn what works, what doesn’t, and how to avoid the mistakes most people make.