This handbook provides guidelines for infection control in various surgical settings. It specifically addresses the needs of nurses practicing in perioperative, PACU, ambulatory surgery, endoscopy, or other surgical settings who need access to current guidelines to meet OSHA and JCAHO requirements. It contains procedure guidelines for preparation of the patient, surgical equipment, personnel, and surgical practices. Each procedure contains a brief description, followed by rationales for the principles outlined in the procedure. Each rationale is referenced to AORN standards, CDC guidelines, and other resources.