Infection Prevention rESOURCES
APIC
APIC (Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology)
APIC is the leading professional organization for IPs. APIC’s educational programs, products, and services support IP work and its many stakeholders APIC collaborates with other professional associations, consumer groups, leaders, and regulatory and accrediting organizations
APICChapters
Implementation Guides(Provide practical, evidence-based strategies for surveillance and the elimination of infection. Each guide includes online tools and resources.)
APIC Prevention Strategist: Onboarding a Novice IP
AAMI (Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation)
AAMI (Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation)
Professional association for sterile processing (and others in the medical device industry)
The AAMI standards program consists of over 100 technical committees and working groups that produce Standards, Recommended Practices, and Technical Information Reports for medical devices.
AHA (American Hospital Association)
AHA (American Hospital Association)
Guidance on humidity levels in the operating room (2015)
AHRQ (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality)
CUSP – The Comprehensive Unit-based Safety Program (CUSP) combines techniques to improve safety culture, teamwork, and communications, together with a checklist of proven practices.
The CORE CUSP Toolkit
Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) Control and Prevention Toolkit
Toolkit for Antibiotic Stewardship
Toolkit for Reducing CLABSI in Hospitals
Toolkit for Reduction of Clostridium [Clostridioides] difficile through Antimicrobial Stewardship
Toolkit to Improve Safety for Mechanically Ventilated Patients
Toolkit to Improve Safety in Ambulatory Surgery Centers
Toolkit to Promote Safe Surgery
Toolkit to Reduce CAUTI and Other HAIs in LTC Facilities
Universal ICU Decolonization: An Enhanced Protocol
AMS (Antimicrobial Stewardship)
AHRQ (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality)
Four Moments of antibiotic decision makingare critical questions that should be considered when deciding whether to prescribe an antibiotic.
Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS)(archived)
2017 Antibiotic Use in the United States
CDCAdult Antibiotic Prescribing Guidelines (Telligen 1-page version)
CDC Clinician Guide for Collecting Cultures
CDC Core Elements for Small and Critical Access Hospitals
CDC Core Elements of Hospital Antibiotic Stewardship Programs
CDCCore Elements of Hospital Antibiotic Stewardship Programs Checklist
Critical Access Hospital Programs
Implementing AMS in a Small, Rural Hospital
Joint Commission Antimicrobial Stewardship Standard (MM.05.11.2020)
National Quality Partners Playbooks: Antibiotic Stewardship in Acute Care
Partnership for Patients – Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced Tiers
Partnership for Patients AMS Step by Step
Pathogens of Epidemiological Concern (HB 1739)
Planning an Intervention Job Aid
Presidential Advisory Council Letter
Rule requiring AMS programs and antibiotic use surveillance (search Section 482.42)
SHEA Practice Resources for AMS
ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers)
ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers)
California Department of Health (CDPH)
CDPH Healthcare associated infections Program
CDPH Infection Prevention Webinars
CDPH Skilled Nursing Facility FAQs
Cal/OSHA - The Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH)
Exposure Control Plan for Bloodborne Pathogens
California Workplace Guide to Aerosol Transmissible Diseases
California Face Coverings, Masks, and N-95 Respirators for COVID-19
Interim Guidance to Protect Mortuary and Funeral Home Staff from COVID-19
Respiratory Protection Fact Sheet
Candida auris
CDC Fact Sheet on Candida auris (English), (Spanish)
CDC Information about this drug resistant yeast that spreads in healthcare facilities
CDCInformation for Laboratorians and Health Professionals
CDC Infection Preventionists Fact Sheet (English), (Spanish)
CDCInformation for Patients and Family Members
CAUTI (catheter-associated urinary tract infection)
AHRQ Toolkit for Reducing CAUTIs
APIC Guide to Preventing Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections
CDC Guideline for Prevention of Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections
CDC Targeted Assessment for Prevention (TAP) CAUTI Toolkit
CMSCAUTI Reporting: Operational Guidance for Fulfilling Hospital Inpatient IQR Requirements
Emergency Nurses Association: CAUTI Prevention in the ED
SHEAStrategies to Prevent CAUTI in Acute Care Settings
CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
CDC ACH (Acute Care/Critical Access Hospitals) Modules and Events: Available components include Patient Safety Component (PSC), Healthcare Personnel Safety Component (HPS), and Biovigilence Component (BV). Other modules include:
AUR Model (antimicrobial use & resistance) Options
Blood Safety (biovigilance component)
BSI Events (bloodstream infections)
CLIP Events (central line insertion practice adherence)
HCP COVID-19 Vaccination (healthcare personnel safety component)
HCP Exposure (healthcare personnel safety component
HCP Flu Vaccination (healthcare personnel safety component)
MDRO & CDI Events (multidrug-resistant organisms & C. difficile infections)
PNEU (Pneumonia [Ped/VAP] Events
SSI Events (surgical site infection events)
UTI Events (urinary tract infections)
VAE (ventilator-associated events)
CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Healthcare-associated Infection (HAI)
CDC STRIVE Infection Control Training
CDC Training and Continuing Education Online (TCEO). TCEO offers CEUs for the CDC training.
CDI (Clostridioides difficile, C-diff, formerly Clostridium difficile)
Strategies to prevent Clostridioides difficile infections in acute-care hospitals: 2022 Update
AHRQToolkit for Reduction of C. diff through Antimicrobial Stewardship
Brecher Guidelines Laboratory(Laboratory Diagnosis of Clostridium difficile Infections)
CDC Targeted Assessment for Prevention (TAP) of C. diff
NHSN Surveillance for C. difficile, MRSA, and other Drug-resistant Infections
IDSA/SHEA diff Pocket Guide
IDSA/SHEA Clinical Practice Guidelines for C. diff Infection in Adults and Children
Know your Poo (a.k.a. Poology)
Reducing C. difficile Infections Toolkit – GNYHA/UHF C. diff Collaborative
SHEA Patient Education Guide – C. diff
SHEAStrategies to Prevent C. diff in Acute Care Settings
See also AMS (Antimicrobial Stewardship)
Certification in Infection Prevention and Control
Certification in Infection Control (CIC®) administered by the Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc.
CBIC (Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology)
CLABSI (central line-associated blood stream infection)
AHRQ Toolkit for Reducing CLABSIs
APIC Guide to Preventing CLABSIs
CDC Guideline for Prevention of CLABSIs
CDC Targeted Assessment for Prevention (TAP) CLABSI Implementation Guide
CMS CLABSI Reporting: Operational Guidance for Fulfilling Hospital Inpatient IQR Requirements
Improve PICC(multiple links to various resources and guidelines)
SHEA Patient Education Guide – CLABSI
Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology Strategies to Prevent CLABSI in Acute Care Settings
Needleless Connector Drying Time – How long does it take? American Journal of Infection Control,(American Journal of Infection Control, 2018).
CLABSI: To use a PICC or not.
CLABSI: To use a cap or not.
CLABSI Chlorhexidine bathing skills assessment by AHRQ.
Infusion Therapy Standards of Practice: A systematic review, (revised 2016). (J Clin Nurs. 2012)
CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services)
CAUTI Reporting: Operational Guidance for Fulfilling CMS’s IQR Requirements
Changes to support U.S. Healthcare System During COVID-19 Pandemic – https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/trump-administration-issues-second-round-sweeping-changes-support-us-healthcare-system-during-covid
Hospital Infection Control Worksheet [document used by surveyors to determine compliance with the Infection Control Condition of Participation]
State Operations Manual (SOM): Appendix A – Survey Protocol, Regulations and Interpretive Guidelines for Hospitals
State Operations Manual (SOM): Appendix G – Guidance for Surveyors: Rural Health Clinics
State Operations Manual (SOM): Appendix W – Guidance for Surveyors: Critical Access Hospitals and Swing-Beds in CAHs
State Operations Manual (SOM): Full Document and All Appendices
Construction
FGI (The Facility Guidelines Institute): Guidelines or Design and Construction of Hospitals and Outpatient Facilities.
The Importance of conducting a comprehensive ICRA (Infection Control risk Assessment)(Abatement Technologies, undated)
Contact Precautions
SHEA Expert Guidance: Duration of Contact Precautions for Acute-Care Settings (2017)
Core Infection Prevention and Control Practices
CRE (carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae)
AHRQ Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) Control and Prevention Toolkit
CDC Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae in Healthcare Settings
Critical Access Hospitals
CDC Core Elements for Small and Critical Access Hospitals(antimicrobial stewardship)
CDC Antimicrobial Use and Resistance (AUR) Options
See also CDC ACH Modules & Events
CDC
CDC Human Infection with 2019 Novel Coronavirus Person Under Investigation (PUI) and Case Report Form. More information can be found here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/pui-form.pdf
CDC Discontinuation of Isolation for Persons with (COVID-19) Not in Healthcare Settings. More information can be found here:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/disposition-in-home-patients.html
CDC Staffing Resources and Guidance
CDC- Ten Ways Healthcare Systems Can Operate Effectively during the (COVID-19) Pandemic
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/ppe-strategy/index.html
CDC Factors to Consider When Planning to Purchase Respirators from Another Country. More information can be found here:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/ppe-strategy/international-respirator-purchase.html
Collection and Submission of Postmortem Specimens from Deceased Persons with Known or Suspected (COVID-19). More information can be found here:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/guidance-postmortem-specimens.html
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Symptoms of Coronavirus
(COVID-19) Contact Tracing Training, Guidance, Resources, and Sample Training Plan
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). More information can be found here:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/covid-data/covidview/index.html
COVID-19 Case Report Form (Updated 5.5.2020)
Evaluating and Testing Persons for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). More information can be found here:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/clinical-criteria.html
Important Information About Cloth Face Coverings
Information for Pediatric Healthcare Providers. More information can be found here:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/pediatric-hcp.html
Interim Guidelines for Collecting, Handling and Testing Clinical Specimens from Persons for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). More information can be found here:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/lab/guidelines-clinical-specimens.html
Interim Additional Guidance for Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Patients with Suspected or Confirmed (COVID-19) in Outpatient Hemodialysis Facilities. More information can be found here:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/dialysis.html#anchor_1588604087
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). More information can be found here: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ppe/ppeapp.html
National Institutes for Occupational Safety & Health NIOSH PPE Tracker App
Preparing for (COVID-19): Long-term Care Facilities, Nursing Homes
Special Considerations for Patients on Home Dialysis
Strategies for Optimizing the Supply of Disposable Medical Gloves
CMC Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services
Hospital Improvement Innovation Networks (HIINS)
COVID-19
AORN education on protocol for COVID-19 patients
AORN provides more information on a protocol for COVID 19-patients undergoing surgery, and reprocessing N95s as well criteria for selection of respiratory protections.
More information can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch
COVID Workforce Virtual Toolkit
This collection provides a curated set of resources and tools for decision-makers managing healthcare workforce challenges in response to the COVID-19 emergency: https://asprtracie.hhs.gov/Workforce-Virtual-Toolkit
COVID-19 Testing and Reporting
CDC Guidance on COVID-19 testing and reporting. More information can be found here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/lab/testing-laboratories.html
COVID-19 Visitor Policy Exceptions for End of Life (EOL)
Visitors are allowed for End of Life situations.
If there are extended family members, the representative is encouraged to FaceTime or utilize other type of social media to include rest of the family.
The following information is noted from Ohana Pacific Management Company Policy:
One visitor each for the following categories:
End of life
Labor and Delivery
Pediatrics
For end of life, it can be multiple visitors but only one person allowed in the room at a time.
Large families would have to trade off persons.
COVID-19 Safety Practices for Critical Infrastructure Workers by implementing safety practices for critical infrastructure workers who may have had exposure to a person with suspected or confirmed COVID-19. More information can be found here:
COVID -19 Healthcare Staffing Resources from CDC:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/open-america/staffing.html
Elsevier COVID-19 Healthcare Hub resource provides toolkits for healthcare professionals such as front-line clinical tools and resources to help deliver excellent care and information to patients.
More information can be found here: https://covid-19.elsevier.health/?campid=20N17909&utm_campaign
Topics on the Elsevier COVID-19 Healthcare Hub include:
Emergency care: Clinical guidelines, drug monographs, and care plans
Inpatient care: Resources to assist with managing a patient’s condition from treatment through discharge.
ICU: clinical guidelines and education related to patients in critical conditions, such as ARDS and sepsis.
Links to the most important leaders working on this pandemic.
European Center for Disease Prevention and Control’s Preparedness for COVID-provides advice to hospitals that want to be prepared for high-pressure situation caused by SARS-CoV-transmission.
More information can be found here: https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications-data/guidance-health-system-contingency-planning-during-widespread-transmission-sars
FDA greenlights a new type of nasal swab for COVID-19
More information can be found here: https://www.statnews.com/2020/04/16/fda-changes-coronavirus-testing-swabs/
Social distancing measures
According to a study published April 14 in Science.The study predicts recurrent winter outbreaks of the virus after the initial, most severe wave.
To avoid exceeding the capacity of the healthcare system, prolonged or intermittent social distancing may be necessary into 2022, researchers write.
Disinfection & Sterilization
CDC Guidelines for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities (2008). More information can be found here:
William Rutala: Disinfection & Sterilization
Tampa General Hospital has strict infection prevention protocols in place, including the use of UVC disinfection, to clean all rooms where infectious disease patients are treated, including (COVID-19) patients. Watch the video below to learn more.
Mitigating risks of processing reusable medical devices in ambulatory care settings.
Watch the video below to learn more.
Disinfection & Sterilization Suggested Resources
High-Level Disinfection and Sterilization Audit Checklist
CDC Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities
Selection of the Ideal Disinfectant
FAQ: Contact time for disinfectants used on non-critical items
EPA-Registered Antimicrobial Products
UNCHC Endoscope Reprocessing Competency Checklist
Infectious Diseases Society of America Guidelines on the Diagnosis of COVID-19
Education – Patient & Family
For Our Patients and Their Visitors: Help Prevent Infections Endorsed by SHEA, IDSA, CDC, APIC, AHA, The Joint Commission
Endotracheal Tubes
TJC Joint Commission FAQ: How to clean, disinfect and store
Environmental Cleaning
APIC Environmental Services Training Modules and Tools
CDC “EVS and the Battle Against Infection”is an interactive graphic novel illustrating the important role of EVS personnel in the prevention of healthcare-associated infections.
CDC Training and Continuing Education Online (TCEO) Environmental Cleaning Course WB4224Modules:
Basic Principles of Infection Control for EVS Technicians
PPE and EVS: Keeping EVS Team Members, Patients, and Caregivers Safety
Chemical Safety for EVS
Surface Cleaning and Disinfection Procedures and Techniques in EVS
Minnesota Hospital Association Environmental Services Cleaning Guidebook
All modules below must be taken to receive CE.
What should NOT be stored under sinks?
Persistence of coronaviruses on inanimate surfaces and their inactivation with biocidal agents.
The analysis of 22 studies showed that SARS, MERS, and HCoV can persist on surfaces up to 9 days but can be effectively inactivated by surface disinfection procedures with 62-71% ethanol, 0.5% hydrogen peroxide, or 0.1% sodium hypochlorite within 1 minute.
Other biocidal agents such as 0.05-0.2% benzalkonium chloride or 0.02% chlorhexidine digluconate are less effective.
Environmental Service Workers (EVS)
Importance of recognizing environmental service workers,including EVS in huddles and any safety briefings and recognizing them as essential to the fight against coronavirus. More information can be found here: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada
Epidemiology (Principles of) – self-study course
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
This self-study course is based upon the printed text: Principles of Epidemiology in Public Health Practice, An Introduction to Applied Epidemiology and Biostatistics, updated 2012.
Fit Testing (See PPE respirators)
US Dept. of Labor’s Temporary Guidance for Respirator Fit-Testing in Healthcare During COVID-19 can be found here:
For additional guidance, COVID-19 Hospital Preparedness Assessment Tool can be found here:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/hcp-hospital-checklist.html.
OSHA field offices shall exercise enforcement discretion concerning the annual fit testing requirement, 29 CFR § 1910.134(f)(2), as long as employers make a good-faith effort to comply with 29 CFR § 1910.134;
Glucometer cleaning
ICAP (Nebraska Medicine)
Glucometer Cleaning Protocol Template
Hand Hygiene
CDC Guideline for Hand Hygiene in Healthcare Settings, 2002
WHO Guidelines on Hand Hygiene in Health Care, 2009 Full Guidelines
SHEA Strategies to Prevent Healthcare-Associated Infections through Hand Hygiene, 2014
Briefing on Hand Hygiene Auditing
Health Equity
AMA (March 2022) Health equity resources
American Journal of Infection Control. Navigating health inequities and health disparities in infection control: a research fellow perspective (April 2022)
CDC-Office of Minority Health & Health Equity (OMHHE) Racism and health(November 2021)
Journal of Preventive medicine and Public Health. Mainstreaming of health equity in infectious disease control policy during the COVID-19 pandemic era (January 2021)
Project First Line. The intersection of infection prevention and control and health equity (January 2022)
Salud America. The intersection of infection prevention and control and healthcare equity(April 2022
WSHA’s Safety & Quality Health Equityprogram
Humidity levels
Joint Communication: Guidance on humidity levels in the operating room (2015)
ICAP (Nebraska Medicine)
What is the recommendation for cleaning the brushes used when cleaning equipment in the sterile
What is the recommendation for alcohol purge and forced air dying after endoscope reprocessing?
Is it sufficient to clean shared nail clippers with alcohol?
What are the requirements for storing sterile items?
Are there specific resources for reprocessing of flexible endoscopes?
ICAR (Infection Control Assessment and Response)
WA DOH Infection Control Assessment and Response Program (ICAR)
Infectious Diseases Society of America
IDSA Practice Guidelines
Practice guidelines are systematically developed statements to assist practitioners and patients in making decisions about appropriate health care for specific clinical circumstances.
The New IP's Guide to the Annual Infection Prevention Risk Assessment, Plan & Review
ICHE Compendium 2022 Implementing strategies to prevent infections in acute-care settings
Injection Safety
CDC Injection Safety
CDC Safe Injection Practices to Prevent Transmission of Infections to Patients
CDC searchable downloadable materials
CDC/NIOSH – Stop Sticks Campaign
FAQs Regarding Safe Practices for Medical Injections(including info on multi-dose vials)
ICAP (Nebraska Medicine)
Should I verify the competency of the healthcare workers who are performing assisted blood?
Sharps Safety for Healthcare Settings: Brochure, Workbook, PowerPoint slides, and Posters
TJC Joint Commission
Use of Blunt-Tip Suture Needles to Decrease Percutaneous Injuries to Surgical Personnel (2008-101)
Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI)
How-to Guide: Prevent Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia (includes vent bundle)
Isolation Guidelines
SHEA Expert Guidance: Duration of Contact Precautions for Acute-Care Settings
Management of Multidrug-Resistant Organisms in Healthcare Settings, 2006
Isolation Precautions
The decision to discontinue Transmission-Based Precautions should be made using a test-based strategy or a non-test-based strategy (i.e., time-since-illness-onset and time-since-recovery strategy). Meeting criteria for discontinuation of Transmission-Based Precautions is not a prerequisite for discharge.
Test-based strategy
Non-test-based strategy
Aerosol-Generating Procedures (AGPs) & PPE: High and Low Risk Procedures.
All PUIs and COVID-19 positive patients should be placed in strict droplet and contact precautions.
Guidelines and more information can be found here
Demonstration of effectiveness of good precautions.
As of March 30, 2020 no staff members at Huoshenshan Hospital had been infected with SARS-CoV-2, indicating that appropriate precautions could effectively prevent infection.
Joint Commission, The (TJC)
New scoring revisions for IC.02.02.01 now in effect (Sept. 2018)
Helpful places on their website (no membership required):
Main TJC Page
Infection Prevention and HAI Portal
Standards Interpretation FAQs(you can also sign up for alerts on new FAQs)
If your question is not found in the FAQs, ask TJC a question here.
Search by chapter [e.g. Infection Prevention and Control (IC) and Medication Management (MM – antimicrobial stewardship)
Resource: The JC Big Book of Policies and Procedures for Hospitals– $299 eBook
Speak Up™ To Prevent Infection
A new patient safety campaign from The Joint Commission, offers free materials for health care facilities and staff to download and provide to patients and their families, so they can become active in their own care.
Joint Commission: Prerecorded Webinar on Preventing COVID-19 transmission in ambulatory health care.
Preventing COVID-19 Transmission in Ambulatory Health Care Centers webinar provides an overview of the spectrum of clinical presentations of coronavirus and gives specific suggestions for decreasing the risk of transmission in ambulatory health care settings.
More information about the webinar can be found here: https://www.jointcommission.org/resources/news-and-multimedia/newsletters/newsletters/joint-commission-online
Linen/Laundry
Association for Linen Management(ALM)
Healthcare Laundry Accreditation Council (HLAC)
Accreditation Standards for Processing Reusable TextilesPlease note that you can send a question to HLAC off the main page
HLAC Standards Checklist– excellent tool to use when visiting or assessing a healthcare laundry facility
ICAP (Nebraska Medicine) I have been cited for having linen stored inappropriately. What is the recommendation for storing linen?
Joint Commission – Standards FAQs
Joint Commission FAQ Does the JC require employers to commercially launder surgical scrubs and other surgical attire?
Laundering C. difficile patient items
Textile Rental Services Association (TRSA)
Video: The Six Cs – Handling Soiled Linen (order free flash drive at org/soiledlinen)
Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LACDPH)
Los Angeles Health Alert Network (LAHAN) - Subscribe to alerts
Medical Waste (waste management)
OSHA Hazardous Waste
Stericyle (medical waste management company):
Navigating the Challenges of Managing Sharps Waste
Medication Preparation
ICAP (Nebraska Medicine) What is a “splash zone” and what is the guidance associated with it?
NHSN
NHSN(National Healthcare Safety Network)
2018 NHSN Patient Safety Component Manual(definitions for all HAIs reported into NHSN)
Acute Care / Critical Access Hospitals(ACH)
There are sections for each of the following:
BSI Event (Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infection and Non-central Line Bloodstream Infection)
CLIPEvent (Central Line Insertion Practices Adherence Monitoring)
Guide to the SIR– 2019
Healthcare Personnel (HC) Flu Vaccination
Multidrug-Resistant Organism & Clostridioides difficile Infection (MDRO/CDI) Module
NHSN National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) Newsletters
NHSN Self-Paced Interactive Trainings
NHSN Training Videos
Pneumonia (PedVAP) Events
Surgical Site Infection Event (SSI)
UTI – Surveillance for urinary tract infections
VAE – Surveillance for Ventilator-associated Events
NIOSH
NIOSH (National Institute for Occupation Safety and Health)
NPPTL
NPPTL (National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory) Healthcare Respiratory Protection Resources
Operating Room Attire (ear and hair coverage)
A Statement from the Meeting of ACS, AORN, ASA, APIC, AST and TJC
(See PPE)
OSHA (Occupational Health and Safety Administration)
OSHA (Occupational Health and Safety Administration)
Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (1910.1030)
OSHA Healthcare-Wide Hazards– Tuberculosis (excellent, easy to use resource)
Safety and Health TopicsStandard Interpretations
Tuberculosis Standards(overview)
Outbreak Response Guidance
CDC The CDC Field Epidemiology Manual
SHEA Expert Guidance:Outbreak Response and Incident Management: SHEA Guidance and Resources for Healthcare Epidemiologists in United States Acute-Care Hospitals
SHEA Outbreak Response Training Program(four free tool kits)
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
COVID-19: Conserving PPE.
More information can be found here: https://med.emory.edu/departments/medicine/divisions/infectious-diseases/serious-communicable-diseases-program/covid-19-resources/conserving-ppe.html
Donning and Doffing:
Doffing gloves, using the restroom, washing hands, and then donning a new pair of gloves processes: Learn how to put on Personal Protective Equipment from AHRQ (video 5 minutes)
More information can be found here: com
Infection Control Today Article: Surgical Masks offer little protection to healthcare workers can be found here: https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/surgical-masks-offer-little-protection-healthcare-workers
Isolation Gowns
AGPs: CDC guidelines state to wear a gown for AGPs. More information can be found
CDC PPE Guidelines when caring for patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19
Disposable Aprons is reviewed by the Centre for Evidence-Based medicine(2020):
The research found suggested that the risk of exposure in healthcare workers is greater with aprons than with gowns but that there is not sufficient data to quantify those risks in the context of primary or community care activity.
The WHO recommends long-sleeved non-sterile gowns and gloves for both aerosol-generating procedures (AGPs) and non-AGPs.
The US CDC has suggested using aprons over gowns as an additional measure to provide protection from contamination of garments during aerosol generating procedures.
OSHA’s latest insights on the importance of PPE programs
Prices for PPE has increased and Becker’s cites a report published by the Society for Healthcare Organization Procurement Professionals that this increase is due to market forces and price-gouging. More information about the PPE price increase. More information can be found here:
PPE Calculator
The CDC has a calculator to determine PPE needs health care facilities here:
The calculator can be downloaded. https://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/healthcare-us/ppe/calculator.html
Supply Chain: Infection Control Today on Keeping the Supply Chain Intact in the Age of COVID-19. More information can be found here:
Guidelines from ANSI are found here: https://www.ansi.org/search#q=respirators&sort=relevancy
KN95: The FDA suggests that the KN95 are a level 1 mask (surgical/procedural mask).
N95s
Counterfeit N95s: Infection Control Today-Don’t Be Fooled: CDC Website Posts Photos of Counterfeit N95 Masks. More information can be found here: https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/dont-be-fooled-cdc-website-posts-photos-counterfeit-n95-masks
Decontamination Methods for 3M Filtering Facepiece Respirators such as N95 Respirators information can be found here: https://multimedia.3m.com/mws/media/1824869O/decontamination-methods-for-3m-filtering-facepiece-respirators-technical-bulletin.pdf
Ethanol spray damaged the fit and seal of the N95 after 2 rounds of decontamination and it is not recommended to use ethanol spray.
Respirators treated with UV and heat started to show fit and seal problems following g3 contaminations which suggested masks can be reused twice. There were no observed failures with the vaporized hydrogen peroxide, suggesting they can be re-used three times. It is the most effective decontamination method for N95. However, anyone who Is using a decontaminated mask should check fit and seal prior to each use.
Standard testing procedures: NIOSH has updated two Standard Testing Procedures (STP):
STP-0120—Determination of Positive Pressure—Open-Circuit, Pressure-Demand, Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus Standard Testing Procedure (STP)—has been updated to Revision 1.3, dated February 24, 2020. More information can be found here: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/stps/pdfs/RCT-ASR-0120-508.pdf
STP-0121—Determination of Rated Service Time—Open-Circuit, Demand and Pressure-Demand, Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus Standard Testing Procedure (STP)—has been updated to Revision 1.3, dated March 10, 2020. More information can be found here: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/stps/pdfs/RCT-ASR-0121-508.pdf
Surgical and cotton masks
Surgical and cotton masks are ineffective for SARS-CoV-2 virus droplets according to a study in South Korea. According to South Korean researchers, in a letter to the Annals of Internal Medicine, they compared both types of masks. When patients coughed into either type of mask, droplets of SARS-CoV-2 were released into the environment. This study did not include N95s.
Policy Review
ICAP (Nebraska Medicine)
How do I go about reviewing infection control policies and bringing them up to date?
Preop Antibiotic Guidelines
Clinical practice guidelines for antimicrobial prophylaxis in surgery
Developed jointly by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), the Surgical Infection Society (SIS), and the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA).
Principles of Epidemiology – Self Study Course
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): This self-study course is based upon the printed text: Principles of Epidemiology I Public Health, updated 2012.
Psychiatric Hospitals
Behavioral Health Care HAI Portal
CMS Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
State Operations Manual (SOM): Appendix AA – P Psychiatric Hospitals – Interpretive
Quality Improvement
Institute for Healthcare Improvement – IHI’s Quality Improvement Essentialsincludes the tools and templates you need to launch and manage a successful improvement project. Each of the ten tools in the toolkit includes a short description, instructions, an example and a blank template.
Respiratory Protection
New study on gaps in respiratory protection guidance
Opportunities to bridge gaps between respiratory protection guidance and practice– ICHE
Return on Investment, IPC program
APICAssociation for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology
Infection Prevention-The Unappreciated Return on Investment: Patient Lives and the Bottom Line
Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority
Demonstrating Return on Investment for Infection Prevention and Control
Sepsis
See also WSHA (Sepsis and Septic Shock )
WHO How to prevent sepsisinfographic
CDC Clinical Resources for Sepsis
Sharps Safety (see Injection Safety)
SHEA (The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America)
For Our Patients and Their Visitors: Help Prevent InfectionsEndorsed by SHEA, IDSA, CDC, APIC, AHA, The Joint Commission
Compendium of Strategies to Prevent Healthcare-Associated Infections in Acute Care Hospitals
SHEA Guidelines and Expert Guidance Documents
Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM)
Home Page Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM)
Surgical Site Infections (SSIs)
ICHE Compendium Strategies to prevent surgical site infections in acute-care hospitals: 2022 Update
AHA Guidance on humidity levels in the operating room (2015)
AHRQ Toolkit to Promote Safe Surgery
AHRQ Toolkit to Improve Safety in Ambulatory Surgery Centers
APIC Infection Preventionist’s Guide to the OR (2018)
APIC Guide to Elimination of Orthopedic and Mediastinitis SSIs (2010)
CDC Guideline for Prevention of SSIs (2017)
SHEA Guidance: Infection Prevention in the Operating Room Anesthesia Work Area
CDC HAN Alert – Contaminated Heater-Cooler Devices Using During Surgery (2016)
CMS SSI Reporting: Operational Guidance for Fulfilling Hospital Inpatient IQR
Air Contamination and SSI Risk – Resources from presentation by Maureen Spencer, 2018
Staffing and HAIs, Hospital
TJC Hospital Staffing and HAIs – A Systematic Review of the Literature, 2018
AJIC A Systematic Approach to Quantifying Infection Prevention Staffing and, 2018
Statistics
Online Statistics Education: A Multimedia Course of Study, Project leader David M. Lane, Rice University.
p Value, Type I and Type II Errors
Standard Deviation, Normal Distribution
Morbidity Frequency Measures: incidence/attack rates, point/period prevalence
Statistics Definitions – Matching Activity
Sensitivity and Specificity
Sensitivity and Specificity Explained Clearly (Biostatistics)(12 minutes)
Medical Statistics: Calculating Sensitivity and Specificity Using a 2×2 Table(< 2 minutes)
Sensitivity & Specificity (Biostatistics) – Made Extremely Easy to Recall (snout and spin)(1 minute)
CDC Risk Ratios
Testing Swabs
Companies design 3D-printed nasal swabs for coronavirus. More information can be found here: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/04/22/coronavirus-3d-printing-companies-answer-the-call-for-swabs-for-covid-19-tests.html
Tools and Forms
The Nebraska ICAP team develops new tools for IPs or provides resources of tools and forms that are already available. They have compiled popularly used tools and forms on their website. These include:
CDC Infection Control Self-Assessment Tools
CLABSI Prevention
CMS Audit Tools
Device Disinfection/Sterilization
Environmental Cleaning and Disinfection
Environmental Rounding
Hand Hygiene
Indwelling Urinary Catheters
Infection Control Committee resource
Infection Surveillance
Infection Safety
Medication Administration
Observation Tools
Outbreaks
Personal Protective Equipment
Staff audit documentation tool
Surveillance
Transfer Form
Visitor Screening
And, others
VAE (ventilator-associated event)
AHRQ Toolkit to Improve Safety for Mechanically Ventilated Patients
AHRQDaily Care Processes Guide for Reducing VAEs
AHRQ CUSP Guide for Reducing Ventilator Associated Events in Mechanically Ventilated Patients
AHRQ VAE Surveillance: Facilitator Guide
IHI How-to Guide Prevent Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia (includes vent bundle)
SHEA Patient Education Resources
From: Klompas,M. Resp Care, Aug 2019, 64(8).
Water Management
APIC What You Need to Know about Legionnaires’ Disease
ASHRAEGuidance on Reducing the Risk of Legionella
CDC Toolkit Developing a Water Management Program to Reduce LegionellaGrowth and Spread in Buildings
CDC Healthcare-associated Infections(includes risk from water; water management; sinks/drains/plumbing, research, opportunisthic pathogens of premise plumbing; and other resources.
CDC Healthcare-associated Legionella (Legionnaires’ Diseaseand Pontiac Fever)
CDC Legionella(including Toolkit for Controlling Legionella in Common Sources of Exposure)
CDC Special Considerations for Healthcare Facilities
ICT article on Preventing Waterborne Pathogen Transmission, Infection Control Today, March 2019
The Role of Water in Healthcare-Associated Infectoins (Brooke K. Decker and Tara N. Palmore, Current Opin Infect Dis. 2013 Aug; 26(4): 345-351): https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5583640/
TJC The Joint Commission: Accountability MeasuresNew Water Management Requirements (Effective January 1, 2022)
Water Intrusions Primer for Infection Preventionists
WHO interim guidance ‘Water, sanitation, hygiene, and waste management for the COVID-19 virus’. This interim guidance is the second edition and supplements existing infection prevention and controldocuments by summarizing the latest evidence on COVID-19 in water supplies and sanitation.
WHO (World Health Organization)
WHO provides specific information for IPC
Core components
Guidelinesand evidence
Hand hygiene
Implementation tool
Injection safety
IPC and AMR
Surgical site infection
Training toolsWHO & COVID-19
COVID-19 Supply Portal: Frequently asked questions can be found here: https://www.who.int/who-documents-detail/covid-19-supply-portal-frequently-asked-questions
Weekly update on COVID-19 can be found here: https://www.who.int/who-documents-detail/weekly-update-on-covid-19—1-may-2020
WHO COVID-19 Situation Reports can be found here: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/situation-reports
WHO has published an interim guidance ‘Water, sanitation, hygiene, and waste management for the COVID-19 virus’. This interim guidance is the second edition and supplements existing infection prevention and controldocuments by summarizing the latest evidence on COVID-19 in water supplies and sanitation.
WHO has updated their guidance for testing, Laboratory testing strategy recommendations for COVID-19, Interim Guidance, 21 March 2020:
Hand hygiene can be found here: https://openwho.org/courses/IPC-HH-en. The WHO 5 Moments for Hand Hygiene diagram is shown below.
More information can be found here: https://www.statnews.com/2020/04/16/fda-changes-coronavirus-testing-swabs/