A number of studies that address the performance and viability of infection prevention and control programs agree that not only is the profession evolving, but the demands placed upon them are increasing dramatically, without commensurate increases in resources and funding. Additionally, the field has been relying upon aging recommendations on everything from staffing to preventable infections, which can hamper the profession’s ability to document and assess its value in preventing healthcare-acquired infections (HAIs).
Critical Infrastructure
Absent the SENIC study, which will be discussed later in this article, one of the aging papers discussing the essential infrastructure and activities of an infection control and epidemiology program is a position paper from Scheckler et al. (1998) that reflects the guidance put forth by a consensus panel from the Society for Healthcare Epidemiologists of America (SHEA). The SHEA paper established three goals for hospital infection control and prevention programs: protect the patient; protect healthcare workers (HCWs), visitors and others in the healthcare environment; and accomplish the aforementioned two goals in a cost-effective manner whenever possible. Scheckler et al. (1998) comment, “The success or failure of the infection control program is defined by its effectiveness in achieving its goals.” The goal, of course, is to prevent HAIs, and the paper outlines outcome measures infection control programs should adopt: to measure the effectiveness of procedures, policies or programs to protect patients and healthcare providers, and to determine their related economic costs.
The SHEA paper also outlines the functions of infection control and epidemiology programs – to uphold the aforementioned three goals – through the following means:
• Managing critical data and information, including surveillance of HAIs
• Setting and recommending policies and procedures
• Intervening directly to interrupt the transmission of infectious diseases
• Educating and training healthcare providers
The paper also presents a comprehensive list of recommendations to support these four main functions.
