EFFECTIVE MARCH 1, 2019 THE IPAC-22 IS A PREREQUISITE PROGRAM FOR THE IP-BC CERTIFICATION EXAM
Objectives of IP-BC™ Certification and Webinar Titles
DEVELOPING A ROAD-MAP FOR SUCCESS
Background
Every healthcare worker has a responsibility to the patient
to provide them with safe care. Preventing infection through
competent and consistent practice is the expected, but current
rates of healthcare-associated infection demonstrate failures at
the individual and system levels.
Objective
The objective of this review is to outline foundational
care activities that represent best practice with respect to
prevention of infection, relating to care provided in the postacute
care setting.
Methods
Sixteen current CDC guidelines were reviewed in order to
identify foundational infection prevention practices embedded
in those guidelines.
Results
Eleven foundational practices were identified and are relevant
to care delivered in all healthcare settings. These included:
1) hand hygiene; 2) standard precautions; 3) personal
protective equipment; 4) transmission-based precautions; 5)
safe injection practices; 6) environmental hygiene; and 7)
personal health. In support of those practices, there must also
exist an emphasis on the following: 8) patient, family, and
caregiver education; 9) individual education and training; 10)
performance monitoring; and 11) support from leadership.
Conclusion
Healthcare personnel have a responsibility to reflect on their
current practice and determine where gaps exist in the ability
to perform these foundational practices. Using this knowledge,
individual performance improvement plans can be developed
that may provide their patients with care that reduces
Each of us, regardless of our roles in healthcare, has a
direct responsibility for the safety of those we serve. We
establish a promise, a covenant, with our patients that
we will provide them with our best care not just once, but
during every encounter. These three scenarios, or ones very
similar, are familiar to nearly every healthcare worker. Sadly,
they represent failure in both the systems of care as well as
individual performance of care.
BACKGROUND
Improving the use of antibiotics in healthcare to protect patients and reduce the threat of antibiotic resistance is a national priority. Antibiotic stewardship refers to a set of commitments and actions designed to “optimize the treatment of infections while reducing the adverse events associated with antibiotic use.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all acute care hospitals implement an antibiotic stewardship program (ASP) and outlined the seven core elements which are necessary for implementing successful ASPs. CDC also recommends that all nursing homes take steps to improve antibiotic prescribing practices and reduce inappropriate use. Antibiotics are among the most frequently prescribed medications in nursing homes, with up to 70% of residents in a nursing home receiving one or more courses of systemic antibiotics when followed over a year.
Similar to the findings in hospitals, studies have shown that 40–75% of antibiotics prescribed in nursing homes may be unnecessary or inappropriate. Harms from antibiotic overuse are significant for the frail and older adults receiving care in nursing homes. These harms include risk of serious diarrheal infections from Clostridium difficile, increased adverse drug events and drug interactions, and colonization and/or infection with antibiotic-resistant organisms.
Very Helpful Study Materials for IP-BC:
Members please log in before going to these links.
http://nadona.org/infection-prevention-resources/
http://nadona.org/groups/infection-control/
