INFECTION PREVENTION RESOURCE GUIDE IP stars in leading roles
Pandemic performances in three acts: cleaning, safety and infection control practices by Ebony Smith
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nfection prevention (IP) staff act every day in critical roles protecting patients, families and each other from pathogens and infections across hospital, patient room and other healthcare settings. As the second year of the COVID-19 pan- demic plays on, prevention of the SARS- COV-2 virus and other community-spread or hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) remains center stage in care.
I “HAIs are a major burden on healthcare
costs in the U.S.,” noted Shawn Malek, Sales and Marketing Manager, Far UV Technologies, Inc. “Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), at least one in 25 patients in U.S. hospitals is dealing with an HAI on any given day. HAIs are more than just added costs; they can cause irreparable bodily harm, drive up the costs of healthcare and even result in death.”
Preparedness and prevention of infec-
tious diseases made ECRI’s “Top 10 Patient Safety Concerns for 2021.” “Of the 10 topics in the report, eight are related to or exacerbated by COVID-19. In addi- tion to health disparities, others include emergency preparedness in aging care facilities, disease outbreak preparedness, supply chain shortages, telehealth, the improvised use of medical devices, and aerosol infection prevention. Each concern is coupled with strategic recommenda- tions to avoid or counter it.”1
Accountability, resources Ultimately, who is responsible for safety and infection prevention in facilities dur- ing a public health crisis, such as COVID- 19? Everyone plays a part, expresses
Sharon Ward-Fore, Infection Prevention Advisor, Metrex.
“During the height of the pandemic it was ‘all hands on deck,’” Ward-Fore observed. “Everyone was nervous about this virus because so much was unknown, so infor- mation was shared across departments regarding supplies, patient bed numbers, staffi ng shortages due to illnessquarantine and the latest news and developments. Most departments were working longer hours. All departments were attuned to the need to conserve and use supplies appropriately to be able to work safely. All departments were concerned about the impact of shortages on patient care.” Certainly, IP staff perform a major role in the support of hand hygiene and personal protective equipment (PPE) for environ- mental services (EVS), clinical and other staff. They also support clean and safe healthcare facilities for patients. “With their expertise, IP teams and infection preventionists use data to guide strategies, policies, and procedures for EVS teams,” stated Martin McGonagle, General Manager, SC Johnson Professional Health- care. “IPs assess data through electronic hand hygiene monitoring systems, cleaning protocols in patient rooms and on equip- ment used on patients and confi rm PPE is worn at the right times for all staff. Infection preventionists, in particular, have spotlighted ongoing education on COVID-19 and protection, notes Karen Hoffmann, RN, MS, CIC, FAPIC, FSHEA, an infection preventionist consultant for the Vidashield UV24 from NUVO Surgical. “Adding to oversight responsibilities of HAI prevention activities, IPs have always
32 June 2021 • HEALTHCARE PURCHASING NEWS •
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had to be ready to pivot to respond to out- breaks with added surveillance, rounding, education, data analysis and mandatory reporting,” Hoffmann explained. “IPs have also played a leadership role in their facility in real time by investigating, evaluating and implementing mitigation and prevention strategies. For many facilities, the IP is the face and communicator of the pandemic response for their facility.” Clorox Professional Products Co.’s Doe Kley, RN, CIC, MPH, T-CHEST, Senior Infection Preventionist, points to flex- ibility of work schedules and supplies among EVS and IP.
“EVS and IP teams have worked and continue to work grueling hours over the past year, with much of that time (and energy)
Doe Kley
focused on a single pathogen – SARS- CoV-2,” Kley shared. “They have also had to ensure that appropriate PPE and disinfectants were available at all times. This sometimes meant using products unfamiliar to them or in formats they were not accustomed to using. If this past year has shown us anything, it’s the importance of resilience – which is something that these teams embody everyday while keeping healthcare facilities safe.” As the crisis persists, PPE sourcing should remain a top priority, stresses Don Lowe, Spokesperson, ProTEC-USA. “Procuring suffi cient quantities of high- quality PPE is a matter that's paramount in protecting front-line workers in the health- care fi eld,” Lowe indicated. “There have been numerous ‘pop-up’ PPE manufactur-
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