Full-time infection preventionist improved practices at skilled nursing facility
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Hiring a full-time infection prevention specialist at a skilled nursing facility in California resulted in significantly improved hand hygiene rates and compliance with infection prevention practices, according to researchers.
They presented the results at the annual conference of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC).
In November 2022, the California Department of Public Health issued the All Facilities Letter, which requires skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) to have a full-time, dedicated infection preventionist, a plan for infection prevention and control, and annual infection prevention and control (IPC) training for all health care personnel.
Bernadette “Priya” Pandya-Orozco, RN, MSN, CIC, manager of infection prevention and control at O’Connor Hospital in San Jose, hired Jeffrey Mantes, RN, BSN, to fill this roll, according to a press release from APIC.
“His priority work was to ensure the infection prevention fundamental practices as well as COVID-19 mitigation strategies were implemented in the SNF,” Pandya-Orozco told Healio.
After his appointment, Pandya-Orozco and Mantes used a direct observation audit tool to monitor hand hygiene, personal protective equipment (PPE) donning and doffing, and catheter-associated (CAUTI) prevention practices. Additionally, they used infection prevention champions UTI — “respected individuals with strong communication skills who are knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the topic at hand,” according to the CDC definition — to correct any noncompliance in real time to maintain staff and patient safety.
As a result of these efforts, the researchers found that the hospital’s compliance with hand hygiene practices increased from 69% in December 2020 to 99% in November and its compliance in CAUTI bundle adherence increased from 81% to 98%.
“IPC practices are the most critical elements in reducing health care-associated infection among residents and staff,” the authors wrote. “Comprehension of fundamental IPC practices is critical to health care systems, especially during a pandemic.”
References:
Proving the value of a adding a full-time infection preventionist: California skilled nursing facility reports infection prevention improvements amid pandemic. https://apic.org/proving-the-value-of-a-adding-a-full-time-infection-preventionist-california-skilled-nursing-facility-reports-infection-prevention-improvements-amid-pandemic/. Published June 14, 2022. Accessed on June 14, 2022.
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Mantes J. Implementing infection prevention and control (IPC) practices including COVID-19 mitigation strategies in a skilled nursing facility. Presented at: APIC 2022; June 13-15, 2022. Indianapolis.
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