DIPC- A Course in Infection Control

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Admission list will be soon live. Classes from June 2024

Diploma in Infection Prevention and Control (DIPC) is a collaborative program of the University of Hyderabad & Infection Control Academy of India (IFCAI) for capacity building of Infection Preventionists (IP). Course participants highly appreciated the course, with a high net promoter score (NPS) of + 81.

Covid-19 had underlined the importance of infection prevention and control. As per an estimate by IFCAI, India needs at least 1,00,000 trained professionals in infection prevention and control to meet current requirements. Many institutions are working on HCP capacity building in IPC namely CDC, IDSA, University of Essex, University of Highlands and Islands, ICAN Medvarsity CAHO, The Shankar Nethralaya Academy CIMS etc.

For Whom DIPC is the Right Course?

This course is the right choice for an Infection Preventionist (IP). Infection Preventionist (IP) is the multi-faceted professionals who make sure healthcare workers and patients are doing all the things they should prevent infections. Most IPs are nurses, epidemiologists, public health professionals, microbiologists, doctors, or other health professionals who work to prevent pathogens from spreading within healthcare facilities. They look for patterns of infection within the facility; observe practices; educate healthcare teams; advise hospital leaders and other professionals; compile infection data; develop policies and procedures; and coordinate with local and national public health agencies.

Why is The IP profession important for modern Healthcare?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1 in 25 hospitalized patients will get an infection as a result of the care they receive, and an estimated 75,000 patients will die each year in the US alone. The prevalence of HAI and consequent morbidity & mortality in Low Resource Countries like India would be even higher. Because healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are a threat to patient safety, many hospitals and healthcare facilities have made the prevention and reduction of these infections a top priority.

What are the Qualifications Required to Become an IP?

Today’s Infection Preventionist (IP) may arrive on the job from a variety of educational backgrounds. In the US Most IPs will still come from a nursing background (82%), but almost 10% trained to be laboratory scientists, while 3% pursued a public health degree. This shift could be a reflection of the changing demands on regulatory compliance becoming more important to employers. IP workforce that is steadily becoming more diverse.

In the Indian scenario, there is no formal IP education available and hence there are no set rules on qualifications. Traditionally IPs in India are divided into ICNs (Infection Control Nurses) and ICOs (Infection Control Officers) where the former is mostly Doctors/ Clinical Microbiologists and ICNs are from Nursing specialities.

The candidates in Medical, Nursing, Public Health, Healthcare Quality and other allied health sciences with exposure to healthcare settings would be ideal for the IP programs.

What are Career Opportunities in India and Worldwide?

With the increased demand for quality improvement and healthcare value, the need for infection preventionists will continue to grow. Individuals interested in the field of infection control and prevention can enter from a variety of educational backgrounds and can expect a steep learning curve as they become adept at handling the significant responsibilities of this critical member of the health care team. The covid-19 pandemic made the world understand the criticality and significance of infection prevention & control. This will further evolve as a promising career option in days to come.

Demand for ICNs and ICOs is growing as the number of hospitals aspiring to get coveted JCI (Joint Commission International) and NABH (National Accreditation Board for Hospitals) are exponentially increasing. It’s a fact that obtaining a JCI or NABH accreditation is impossible without proper Infection Control in place. This factor is driving the demand for trained IPs and hence the remuneration offers are steeply going up. A professional Diploma from well recognised universities will further shore up the career opportunities.


You can download University of Hyderabad-CDVL Prospectus from here.

*Disclaimer: The contents of these pages are provided as an information guide only. They are intended to enhance public access to information about Infection Prevention and Control programs. While every effort is made in preparing material for publication no responsibility is accepted by or on behalf of the Infection Control Academy of India or University of Hyderabad for any errors, omissions or statements on these pages or any site to which these pages connect. The site name www.pgdipc.com is not suggestive that the courses offered or the certificates will be with the same title. The title of degrees and certificates will be in compliance with UGC guidelines and the aspirants should always refer to respective notifications for authentic information.