Consulting-Infection Prevention and Control

Posted September 28, 2021

By Kim Presta RN BN ENC CIC and now Blogger

Welcome to my Blog Forum:

Today we will be discussing the details about what an Infection Prevention and Control Program (IPAC) is, the importance of this program for staff, client/patient safety, infectious injury prevention as part of the overall outcome of the program and how IPAC is a key stakeholder in in health care settings (hospitals, long term care homes, retirement homes, shelters, group homes and other congregate settings, also dental offices, eye clinics, medical offices, etc.) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

First off to introduce myself, I am a member of the College of Nurses of Ontario with a degree in Nursing and an RN for over 20 years. I have been working within the field of IPAC since 2010 in a large urban acute care facility. I have had the pleasure of working as a front line Infection Control Practitioner (ICP) in an IPAC Department and learned so much about the world of epidemiology, microbiology, antibiotic resistance, communicable diseases, contact tracing, and so much more.

Let’s get started!

IPAC program in a health care such as a hospital can be a substantive cost saving investment. Having the IPAC representative as a key stakeholder in program planning, construction, infrastructure development, surgical program reviews, design of department, as well as other more well known in the media these days such as hand hygiene education, personal protective equipment (PPE), contact tracing to name a few.

How can having ICP’s as key stakeholders in construction, design meeting save money?

Two sayings come to mind here, 1. measure twice cut once, or if that does not land, 2. an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, may help summarize.

Overall having an IPAC program implemented in your organization will go along way. Staff engagement is imperative for the success of an IPAC Program, Organizations who have knowledgeable leaders who are also members on the IPAC committee will promote the importance of the work of the IPAC program as well as investment in the program to have ongoing positive outcomes. Positive outcomes for your organizations means positive patient experiences, positive employee feedback and satisfaction, outstanding evaluations from Accreditation Canada and alignment with other health care partners.

What does a successful IPAC Program look like?

1. Low to no surgical site infections

2. Low to no communicable infections transmitted in the workplace to staff or client/patient

3. Educated staff who are using the PPE at the correct times

4. Hand hygiene audit outcomes are high

5. No WSIB claims filed based on infection in the workplace

6. Participation from all levels within your organization in the programs rolled out by the IPAC department/Manager/Lead.

These are a few positive outcomes an organization can expect when an IPAC Program is implemented and ongoing and remains a high priority.

Refences for your review for further resources and knowledge

Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion (Public Health Ontario), Provincial Infectious Diseases Advisory Committee. Infection Prevention and Control for Clinical Office Practice. 1st Revision. Toronto, ON: Queen’s Printer for Ontario; April 2015.

Ontario Agency For Health Protection and Promotion. Provincial Infectious Diseases Advisory Committee. Best Practices for Infection Prevention and Control Programs in All Health Care Settings, 3rd edition. Toronto, ON: Queen’s Printer for Ontario; May 2012