Caregivers must be constantly alert to the need for cleanliness. It is vitally important to prevent infections, both for you and the person you care for.

People usually refer to infectious agents as “germs”. These include bacteria, viruses, and fungus. Examples of communicable diseases, which can be spread from one person to another, are colds, flu, respiratory infections (such as flu and pneumonia), gastrointestinal infections (which lead to vomiting and/ or diarrhea), and AIDS.