INFECTION PREVENTION RESOURCE GUIDE
ers, many of which are offshore, that fall well short of delivering a dependable PPE product on time. There is legislation under review at present that works to secure domestically produced PPE for maximum confidence and protection.”
In play for PPE disinfection changes are new guidelines from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) “recom- mending healthcare personnel and facili- ties transition away from crisis capacity
conservation strategies, such as decon- taminating or bioburden reducing dis- posable respirators for reuse. Based on the increased domestic supply of new respirators approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) currently available to facilitate this transition, the FDA and CDC believe there is adequate supply of respirators to transition away from use of
decontamination and bioburden reduction systems.”2 Holding much knowledge in their field, infection preventionists can provide guid- ance on IP protocols and product evalua- tion in facilities, suggests Eric Jungslager, Vice President of Healthcare, GP PRO. “While the IP has always been respon- sible for isolating the sources of healthcare- associated infections and limiting their spread, this guidance has heightened their attention to hand hygiene, be it establishing hand hygiene compliance metrics, educat- ing healthcare workers on the importance of adhering to hand hygiene protocols or overseeing compliance,” ungslager emphasized. “In addition, the coronavi- rus pandemic has made the role of the IP much more visible and prominent, thereby driving their subject matter expertise to the forefront of facility operations and providing them with an opportunity to take a more active role in researching and selecting infection prevention solutions. By having a voice in this selection process, the IP is better poised to achieve a facility’s stated infection prevention goals.”
Following protocols, standards Infection preventionists dedicate much of their time assessing, collecting and present- ing information and data internally and externally, points out Anastasia (Stacy) Johnson, MSN, APRN, ACNS-BC, CNOR, CNS-CP(E), Clinical Education Consultant, Advanced Sterilization Products. “During the constantly changing course
of the COVID-19 global pandemic, IP teams have been called to partner with health- care professionals to the full extent of their role: observe practices; educate healthcare teams; advise hospital leaders and other professionals; compile infection data; develop
Anastasia Johnson
policies and procedures; and coordinate with local and national public health agencies (APIC, 2021),”3
Johnson noted.
“They continue to monitor reports from state and federal public health agencies to inform practice and update policies. The IP serves as a critical resource to review infection data and trends, and to consult and answer questions regarding COVID- 19 testing, vaccination and new variants of the COVID-19 virus.”
On the patient care side, respiratory professionals provide medical equipment that is sanitary and safe for use on patients, highlights Edwin Coombs, MA, RRT, NPS, ACCS, FAARC, Senior Marketing Director for Portfolio Solutions Training, Clinical
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