Part One: Assessing Your Infection Prevention Program, Two-Part Series (ODPT1W5025)-Assessing Your Infection Prevention Program, Part One Recording

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The presented series, led by Ms. Linda Green—an esteemed infection prevention expert—focuses on foundational and advanced principles of infection prevention programs in healthcare settings. The session highlights the importance of conducting annual and targeted risk assessments to identify and prioritize infection risks, which then inform the prevention program’s goals and plans. Risk assessments consider various factors such as healthcare-associated infection data, multi-drug resistant organisms, outbreaks, patient demographics, community factors, and procedural risks. Tools like quantitative scoring, gap analyses, SWOT analyses, and the Infection Control Risk Assessment for Construction (ICRA) are used to systematically evaluate and mitigate risks. Linda emphasized interdisciplinary collaboration and continual reassessment to adapt to evolving healthcare conditions.<br /><br />The second part covers surveillance and best practices for preventing common healthcare-associated infections, including central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI), catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI), and Clostridioides difficile (C. diff). The discussion differentiates process indicators (care practices like hand hygiene compliance) from outcome indicators (infection rates), stressing the importance of standard definitions and appropriate denominators for accurate data interpretation. Best practices include aseptic insertion and maintenance bundles for central lines, strategies to reduce catheter use and improve urine culture stewardship, and environmental controls to limit pathogen transmission. Key resources like the SHEA Compendium of Strategies, APIC guidelines, and CDC reports serve as “bibles” for evidence-based prevention. Ms. Green also underscores the role of auditing, rounding, and continuous education to promote compliance and achieve infection prevention goals.<br /><br />Overall, the comprehensive series equips healthcare professionals—especially new infection preventionists—with essential knowledge, tools, and strategies to build effective programs and improve patient safety.

Keywords

infection prevention

risk assessment

healthcare-associated infections

multi-drug resistant organisms

outbreak management

quantitative scoring

SWOT analysis

ICRA

interdisciplinary collaboration

surveillance

CLABSI

CAUTI

Clostridioides difficile

hand hygiene compliance

infection control guidelines