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Infection Prevention and Control Response and Escalation Framework: Evaluation and application beyond a pandemic

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in constant changes to Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) recommendations, impacting clinician capacity to stay up to date. The COVID-19 IPAC Response and Escalation Framework (IPAC Framework), rarely reported or evaluated was developed to provide scalable IPAC guidance during the pandemic to health care in New South Wales (NSW), Australia. METHODS: Using a thematic analysis approach, a qualitative study using an online, cross-sectional survey comprising 27 questions was sent to 248 key stakeholders. Participants were health workers with broad clinical and system representation with responsibilities for risk assessment, communicating, implementing, or monitoring the IPAC Framework. RESULTS: The IPAC Framework provided a useful IPAC tool for the management of COVID-19 as perceived by 93% of respondents. The overwhelming majority (91%) reported the Framework provided enough information on IPAC strategies needed for COVID-19 that were aligned with transmission risk. Resources supporting the IPAC Framework were reported by most respondents (84%) as being widely accepted as the authoritative guidance. CONCLUSIONS: An IPAC Framework is perceived as invaluable by clinicians and administrators to manage IPAC requirements in health care during a pandemic. The IPAC Framework can be applied more generally to support ongoing IPAC requirements.

Source: American Journal of Infection Control

DOI: 10.1016/j.ajic.2024.10.036

Authors: Kathy Dempsey, Susan Jain, Patricia Bradd, Kate Clezy, David Greenfield

Institutions: UNSW Sydney, Clinical Excellence Commission, University of Technology Sydney

Language: English

Topic: Infection Control in Healthcare

Subfield: Infectious Diseases

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,090