Meet Infection Control Today's Editorial Board Member: Tabrikah Mohammed, MSc, BSN, CIC, CPHQ, FAPIC

Meet Infection Control Today's Editorial Board Member: Tabrikah Mohammed, MSc, BSN, CIC, CPHQ, FAPIC

Introducing the Infection Control Today's (ICT's) Editorial Board members—a diverse group of professionals dedicated to advancing infection prevention and control practices. This series highlights each member's unique expertise and contributions to the field.

From groundbreaking research to innovative strategies, these experts are at the forefront of enhancing health care safety. Join us as we learn their insights, experiences, and visions for the future, providing valuable knowledge and inspiration to elevate infection control protocols.

In this installment, we hear from Tabrikah Mohammed, MSc, BSN, CIC, CPHQ, FAPIC, senior infection control officer, MSc, BSN, TQM, CIC, CPHQ, FAPIC.

Tabrikah Mohammed, MSc, BSN, CIC, CPHQ, FAPIC, is an accomplished nursing professional with a diverse educational background and vast experience in infection control. She obtained a bachelor of nursing degree from Sharjah University in 2011 and a master of health care administration from the Royal College of Surgeon Ireland in 2013.

Tabrikah has furthered her expertise by obtaining certification as a CIC in 2018 and a CPHQ in 2021. She is also the founder of the IPQ Academy, where she imparts her knowledge and experience to other health care professionals. As the cofounder, head of the scientific committee, and infection control expert at the Middle East North Africa Federation for Hospital Sterilization Sciences (MENA FHSS), she has significantly contributed to the healthcare sector.

Recently, she founded the Emirates Infection Prevention and Sterilization Society (EIPSS), a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing knowledge in infection prevention and sterilization practices in the United Arab Emirates. EIPSS operates under the Emirates Nursing Association (ENA).

Currently, Tabrikah serves as a senior infection control officer in The National Rehabilitation Centre, where she applies her skills and knowledge to ensure the safety of patients and healthcare workers. She is also a member of the 2023 editorial advisory board for ICT, a testament to her reputation as an expert in infection control.

Tabrikah's contributions to infection control have been recognized through several awards, including the IP Idol from Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc, in 2021 and Best IPC Influencer by Saudi Society for Infection Prevention and Control in 2023. She is also an international speaker at various conferences and conducts workshops.

Tabrikah sees these topics as trending right now:

Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs:

• These programs aim to optimize the use of antibiotics to combat antibiotic resistance. They involve the proper selection, dosage, and duration of antibiotic treatment to minimize resistance and adverse effects.

Data-Driven Infection Prevention

• Surveillance systems: Real-time data and advanced analytics track infection trends and outbreaks within healthcare facilities, allowing quicker and more effective responses.
• Artificial intelligence and machine learning: These technologies are applied to predict outbreaks and optimize infection control strategies.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Innovation

• Enhanced PPE: PPE is continually being innovated, with improvements in comfort, durability, and protection levels. Reusable PPE is also being developed to address supply chain issues and sustainability concerns.

Infection Control in Nonhospital Settings

• Long-term care facilities: Infection prevention in long-term care facilities has become a major focus, particularly due to residents' vulnerability to infections like COVID-19 and influenza.
• Community settings: There’s increased attention to infection prevention in schools, workplaces, and other community settings.

Education and Training

• Virtual Training Programs: Online platforms for infection prevention training have expanded, making education more accessible and scalable.
• Interprofessional Collaboration: There’s a growing emphasis on interprofessional education and collaboration in infection prevention, recognizing that effective infection control requires teamwork across various healthcare disciplines.

Patient-Centered Approaches

• Patient Education: Educating patients and their families on infection prevention practices, such as hand hygiene and recognizing signs of infection, is becoming more prevalent.
• Patient Involvement: There is a trend towards involving patients in their care, including infection prevention measures, to improve outcomes.

Sustainability in Infection Prevention

• Ecofriendly practices: There is an increasing focus on sustainable practices in infection prevention, such as reducing single-use plastics and developing environmentally friendly disinfectants.

Infection Prevention in Nonhospital Settings:

There is a growing focus on infection prevention in long-term care facilities, outpatient clinics, and community settings. Tailored infection control measures are being developed for these environments.

Telehealth and Remote Monitoring:

• Telehealth services have expanded significantly, reducing the need for in-person visits and thereby lowering the risk of infection transmission. Remote monitoring of patients helps in managing infections and chronic conditions more effectively.

Tabrikah told ICT that the publication could focus on a range of timely and impactful topics. Here are her suggestions:

1. Emerging Infectious Diseases and Global Threats

• New and emerging pathogens: Coverage of the latest research and developments regarding new viruses or bacteria, particularly those with pandemic potential.
• Global Health Security: Updates on global efforts to prevent and control infectious diseases, including responses to outbreaks and lessons learned from recent events.

2. Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)

• Innovations in combating AMR: New technologies, treatments, and policies to mitigate the rise of drug-resistant infections.
• Surveillance and reporting: Strategies for improving AMR monitoring in healthcare settings.

3. Infection Control in Special Populations

• Long-term care facilities: Best practices for preventing infections in nursing homes and other long-term care settings.
• Pediatric and neonatal care: Specialized approaches to infection control in pediatric units.

4. Health Care-Associated Infections (HAIs)

• Reducing HAIs: Latest strategies, protocols, and technologies for preventing HAIs, with a focus on surgical site infections, catheter-associated infections, and ventilator-associated pneumonia.
• Outbreak management: Case studies and lessons learned from recent HAI outbreaks.

5. Environmental Hygiene and Disinfection

• Innovations in disinfection: New products, technologies, and practices in environmental cleaning and disinfection.
• Role of air quality in infection control: Research on the impact of ventilation and air purification in preventing the spread of infections.

6. Vaccine Development and Uptake

• Vaccine hesitancy and misinformation: Strategies for healthcare professionals to address vaccine hesitancy and counter misinformation.
• Advancements in vaccine technology: Updates on new vaccines and vaccine delivery methods.

7. Technology and Digital Health in Infection Control

• AI and machine learning in infection prevention: How artificial intelligence predicts and prevents outbreaks in healthcare settings.
• Telehealth and remote monitoring: The role of telehealth in infection control, especially in managing patients with infectious diseases remotely.

8. Post-Pandemic Infection Control

• Lessons from COVID-19: How the pandemic has changed infection control practices permanently.
• Preparing for the next pandemic: Future-proofing infection control protocols.

9. Infection Control in Nonhospital Settings

• Infection prevention in outpatient clinics: Best practices for clinics, dental offices, and other non-hospital healthcare settings.
• School and workplace infection control: Strategies for preventing infections in schools and workplaces, especially with the increasing focus on respiratory illnesses.

10. Training and Education

• Continuing education for healthcare workers: New programs, tools, and certifications in infection prevention.
• Patient and family education: How to involve patients and their families in infection prevention efforts.