Explain the principles of infection prevention and control (IPC) and their importance in preventing healthcare-associated infections. Demonstrate appropriate hand hygiene, use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and standard and transmission-based precautions in clinical practice. Describe the principles of antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) and the importance of rational antimicrobial prescribing in reducing antimicrobial resistance. Identify appropriate indications for antimicrobial therapy and apply principles of antibiotic selection, dosing, route, and duration. Explain the importance of appropriate specimen collection, handling, storage, and transportation for microbiological culture and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Identify the correct specimens, collection techniques, and containers required for common microbiological investigations, including blood, urine, sputum, and wound cultures. Recognize common errors in specimen collection that may lead to contamination, inaccurate results, and inappropriate antimicrobial treatment. Apply culture and antimicrobial susceptibility results to guide targeted antimicrobial therapy, including de-escalation when appropriate. Promote coordinated IPC, AMS, and microbiology practices to improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare-associated infections and antimicrobial resistance.