In primary health care, prevention of infection is a key component of the population ‘ s health, and the following are common and important methods of prevention at the grass-roots level:
• Strengthening health education through community-based information campaigns, health lectures, information kits, and so on. For example, residents are taught to wear masks, to wash their hands, to cover their mouths and noses with paper towels when coughing or sneezing during the high flu season, in order to avoid the spread of foam; the importance of food cleaning and drinking water hygiene in the prevention of intestinal infections, such as not eating raw, cold food, drinking raw water, etc., is taught to raise the awareness of the population about self-protection and to take proactive preventive actions.
• Environmental health management: maintenance of hygiene in primary health-care facilities, community-based public places and households. Medical institutions regularly disinfect the wards, dispensaries, treatment rooms, etc., use appropriate disinfectants to wipe the surfaces of tables, chairs, floors, etc., and operate medical devices in strict compliance with the disinfection process to prevent cross-infection. In the community, garbage removal and disposal are being strengthened, and public areas, such as buildings, elevators, etc., are regularly decontaminated to reduce the growth and spread of disease. Households should also focus on daily cleaning, frequent ventilation, keeping indoor air fresh and reducing the risk of infection.
• Development of personal hygiene practices: promoting the development of good hygiene practices. Handwashing is an effective means of preventing multiple infections by teaching people to wash their hands carefully, using soap or handwashing fluids, at critical times, such as before meals, after contact with public goods and when they go home, in accordance with the “seven steps to wash hands”, and ensuring that hands are clean. At the same time, the body is kept clean, regular baths are taken, clothes are changed, and bacteria are prevented from growing in the body. In addition, the population is being educated to avoid sharing personal effects such as towels and toothbrushes and to prevent the spread of the disease among people.
• Vaccination promotion: primary health-care institutions should actively promote and organize vaccination campaigns. For example, children are vaccinated against measles, rubella, mumps, hepatitis B and the corresponding infectious diseases; influenza and pneumonia vaccines are administered to vulnerable groups such as the elderly and chronically ill to reduce the incidence and severity of respiratory infections. By creating a well-developed vaccination record, the population is being reminded of the need for vaccination in a timely manner, increasing vaccination rates, creating a group immunization barrier and effectively preventing the spread and spread of infectious diseases.
• Medical waste disposal: primary health-care institutions should regulate the process of classification, collection, transit and disposal of medical waste. Medical waste, such as disposable medical devices, dressings, and packaging of medicines after use, is strictly classified and placed in specialized garbage bags and sharpware boxes to prevent environmental pollution and infection from leaking medical waste. Recycling by qualified medical waste treatment units is carried out on a regular basis to ensure safe and harmless disposal of medical waste and to cut off the transmission of the infection from sources through medical waste.
• Building an infection surveillance and control system: primary health-care institutions should establish a sound infection monitoring system, regularly monitor, measure and analyse cases of infection in health-care institutions, and promptly identify potential infection risk factors and concentrated infections. At the same time, communication and collaboration with higher-level health-care institutions is being strengthened, and emergency response mechanisms for the prevention and control of infection are being put in place. In the event of an outbreak of infection, rapid measures can be taken to prevent the spread of the infection and to ensure the health and safety of the population at the grass-roots level.
