Healthcare waste management is closely connected with infection prevention and control because improperly managed healthcare waste can contain pathogenic microorganisms, contaminated materials, blood and body fluids, sharps, pharmaceutical residues and other hazardous substances. Infection control refers to the policies, practices and procedures used in healthcare facilities to prevent the transmission of infections among patients, healthcare workers, waste handlers, visitors and the community. Effective infection control requires a combination of several components that work together to break the chain of infection. The major components of infection control include: 1. Hand hygiene: Proper hand washing and hand disinfection are among the most important measures for preventing the spread of infection. Hands should be cleaned before and after patient contact, after contact with contaminated materials, after removing gloves and whenever visibly soiled. 2. Personal protective equipment (PPE): Gloves, masks, gowns, aprons, goggles and face shields provide a protective barrier between healthcare workers and infectious materials. PPE should be selected according to the nature of the exposure and disposed of or decontaminated appropriately after use. 3. Safe injection and medication practices: Injections must be administered using sterile, single-use equipment. Needles and syringes should never be reused. Proper medication preparation and administration help prevent blood-borne and healthcare-associated infections. 4. Environmental cleaning and disinfection: Healthcare environments, equipment and frequently touched surfaces must be cleaned regularly. Appropriate disinfectants and procedures should be used to reduce microorganisms and prevent environmental transmission. 5. Sterilization and disinfection of medical equipment: Reusable instruments must be properly cleaned and disinfected or sterilized before reuse. Sterilization destroys all forms of microbial life, while disinfection reduces or eliminates many disease-causing microorganisms. 6. Healthcare waste management: Waste should be segregated at the point of generation into appropriate categories and placed in suitable containers. Infectious waste, sharps, pharmaceutical waste and other categories require appropriate handling, transportation, treatment and final disposal. 7. Respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette: Patients, visitors and healthcare workers should follow practices such as covering the mouth and nose while coughing or sneezing, using tissues or masks when appropriate and maintaining suitable distance from people with respiratory infections. 8. Safe handling of sharps: Needles, blades and other sharp objects can cause injuries and transmit blood-borne infections. Sharps