|
Reporting and Investigating in Nursing Homes
LeadingAge Washington, Washington Health Care Association, and Residential Care Services will be conducting this free webinar on October 24, 2023, from 1:00-3:00 p.m.
This webinar is a joint training for nursing home providers and their staff, Residential Care Services and their staff, and the associations and their staff. Registration is now open!
Objectives:
- Review the laws and regulations that cover mandated reporting and investigations outlined in RCW 74.34, WAC 388-97, and 42 CFR § 483.12.
- Understand the relevancy of the ‘Nursing Home Guidelines’ (‘The Purple Book’) for reporting and investigations.
- Discuss and dispel urban myths.
- Increase ability when you do and don’t have to make a report and investigate.
Isolation Precautions Sign Updates: A Collaboration between WSHA, DOH and local Infection Preventionists
The webinar will be hosted October 26, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. PST. This webinar will provide background on the importance of infection prevention in healthcare settings, the signage revision process and the benefits of posting current, consistent Isolation Precautions signage across facilities.
New Sepsis Core Elements Webinar Series with Free CE
Starting in October, CDC’s Project Firstline is kicking off a five-part webinar series for healthcare professionals in collaboration with the American Medical Association to introduce the Hospital Sepsis Program Core Elements, a framework to help U.S. hospitals implement, monitor, and optimize institutional sepsis programs and sepsis outcomes. The Sepsis Core Elements complement existing sepsis guidelines and help facilitate implementation of guideline-recommended care practices at a wide variety of hospitals and healthcare systems in the United States.
Training 1: Introduction to Essential Skills for Healthcare IPC Webinar
This webinar will be held Thursday, October 19, 11:00 a.m. and serves as an introductory lesson for essential skills and as a foundation for the in-person training this fall (please note in-person training registration is not a requirement for participation in this webinar). following the live webinar, a recording of the live webinar will be sent out to all who registered.
By the end of this training, participants will be able to do the following:
- Recognize the value of essential skills as they relate to IPC.
- Describe social determinants of health and equity.
- Understand the basic principles of unconscious bias.
For questions, please reach out to Andrea Chavez Calvi at achavezcalvi@naccho.org.
Strengthening Infection Prevention in Adult Family Homes
Please join presenters from the Department of Health (DOH) for this informative webinar November 2, 2023, 1:00-2:00 p.m. Discussion topics include:
- Residential care services requirements for personal protective equipment (PPE) and respiratory protection plans (RPP)
- Respiratory protection plans
- Upcoming changes to Washington State DOH’s Respiratory Protection Program
- PPE fatigue
- Infection control and assessment response (ICARs)
- Ordering POC COVID tests and arranging on-site COVID testing.
- How to request PPE in an emergency
1.0 hours of CE are available for Adult Family Home Council members who attend the entire webinar.
|
|
 Respiratory Virus Season
|
|
Know Your Role: Practice Infection Control During Respiratory Virus Season
As frontline workers, healthcare staff play a crucial role in protecting patients, coworkers, and themselves from getting sick, especially during respiratory virus season. As respiratory virus season approaches, it is more important than ever to emphasize infection control in our healthcare settings.
The CDC Project Firstline has created a variety of resources to promote infection control best practices during respiratory virus season, including a webpage and infographic that outline infection control actions, signs encouraging masking, and a one-pager explaining the risk of germs in the respiratory system.
In addition, check out a new Safe Healthcare Blog from Dr. Mike Bell describing important infection control reminders for respiratory virus season.
|
|
COVID-19 Preparedness and Outbreak Control Checklist for Long Term Care Facilities
This tool allows facilities to quickly assess their COVID infection control practices and respond to a COVID-19 outbreak.
The checklist does not replace formal guidance by Centers for Disease Control CDC and/or any Local Health Jurisdiction (LHJ) guidelines or recommendations. Healthcare facilities should follow regulatory requirements in the development of their COVID-19 facility policies and procedures. Please refer to regulatory agencies (Labor & Industries, Department of Social and Health Services, and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) for additional information on regulatory requirements.
|
Updated Visitation Videos for Long-Term Care Settings
 The Strategic Partners Program in the Healthcare-Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance (HAIAR) section of the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) is pleased to announce the release of three updated educational videos to help visitors to long-term care (LTC) settings learn about basic infection control measures for preventing COVID-19, flu, and other infectious diseases.
The LTC Visitation Guidance video describes basic infection prevention practices, while the LTC Isolation Precautions Guidance video covers the proper use of personal protective equipment when visiting someone who is in quarantine. The Adult Family Home Visitation video provides basic visitation guidance specific to adult family home settings.
|
|
 Oncology Infection Control Assessment and Response
Oncology patients face heightened susceptibility to infections due to the immune-suppressing nature of cancer treatments. This vulnerability exposes them to a range of infections including respiratory, bloodstream, and urinary tract infections.
To ensure oncology settings have the appropriate infection control practices in place, the Department of Health’s Infection Prevention team has created an oncology focused workgroup comprising seasoned infection preventionists (nurses and epidemiologists) with oncology backgrounds, occupational health nurses, and an industrial hygienist.
This oncology workgroup partnered with a frontline infection preventionist from a major comprehensive cancer center in Seattle to develop an oncology focused Infection Control Assessment and Response (ICAR) tool.
Our goal is to provide additional infection control support to oncology facilities in Washington state to help reduce the risk of infections to this vulnerable patient population. We are currently reaching out to facilities and various communities to spread the word about our non-regulatory, free ICAR consultations which will be available on-site as well as via televisit.
The CDC has released new resources to assist nursing home staff with understanding the benefits of and implementing Enhanced Barrier Precautions (EBP). This new suite of resources will help staff, residents, and loved ones learn more about why EBP are important and when these practices should be used. We encourage you to share these resources widely.
Videos
Print Resources
|
|
 General Updates:
-
New WA DOH Resources:
-
CDC’s Antibiotic Resistance and Patient Safety Portal Updates:
Educational Opportunities:
-
Antimicrobial Stewardship of Urinary Tract Infections in the Long-Term Care Setting Educational Series
- The Washington Department of Health, in collaboration with the Washington State Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine (WA-PALTC), is hosting a webinar series with FREE continuing education credits for Physicians and Pharmacists.
- Save the Date! NHSN AU Option: Using Data for Action in Critical Access Hospitals
- The CDC and the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Federal Office of Rural Health Policy are co-hosting a webinar on November 14th. Speakers will describe requirements for meeting the Antimicrobial Use and Resistance (AUR) Measure within the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Promoting Interoperability Program and using the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) Antimicrobial Use (AU) data for action in critical access hospitals.
Clinical Pearls:
- New Consensus Statement for the Use of Prolonged-Infusion Beta-Lactam Antibiotics
-
These recommendations provide the first consensus guidance for the use of β-lactam therapy administered as prolonged infusions.
-
OFID Article: Two Times Versus Four Times Daily Cephalexin Dosing for the Treatment of Uncomplicated UTIs in Females
-
This study concludes that twice daily cephalexin is as effective as four times daily doing for uncomplicated UTI.
Reminders:
- WA DOH’s NHSN AUR Implementation FAQ
- The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will be requiring all hospitals to be in “Active Engagement” in NHSN AUR module starting in 2024. We put together a Frequently Asked Questions document to help you get started. Additionally, a new page has been added to page 2 describing the specific updates.
-
WA DOH’s Getting Started with the NHSN AUR Module Office Hours
- You are invited to join: Getting Started with the AUR Module Office Hours. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.
- These office hours will now be hosted quarterly.
- These office hours are to assist facilities who are either not yet reporting into the NHSN AUR module, or who are just getting started and would like to learn the very basics of the module. The format will be a five-to-ten-minute presentation on a feature of NHSN AUR, followed by time for questions.
-
NHSN Antimicrobial Use (AU) Module Reporting Funding Opportunity for Hospitals
- To help offset the cost of implementing reporting to the NHSN-AU module, the Department of Health is offering a $5,000 financial reimbursement to hospitals that start reporting to the NHSN-AU module between August 1, 2022, and March 1, 2024.
|
|
 Comparison of CDI data between 2022 and 2023
Hospitals in Washington report laboratory identified Clostridioides difficile infections (CDI) events to the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN). While acute care hospitals, long-term acute care hospitals, and rehabilitation hospitals are required to report CDI, critical access hospitals can report voluntarily. The data below compare CDI counts so far in 2023 to the same time period in 2022. Counts shown are for healthcare onset (HO) CDI events only.
CDI Counts by Facility Type, January to August 2022 and 2023
This graph compares the HO CDI counts from January to August 2023 and 2022 by facility type. Here, IRFs and LTACHs are combined in the OTHER category. Overall, facilities did better with CDI incidence in 2023 as compared to 2022, same months. HO CDI counts are down from the previous year in all facility type.
 CDI Count Grouped by Facility, January to August 2022 and 20223
In this graph, facility CDI counts for January to August 2022 and 2023 are grouped to show individual facility progress. This graph only includes de-identified facilities that reported HO CDI events in 2023. Facilities that did not report any CDI data in 2022 only display data for 2023.
Only 12 facilities reported more CDI events in 2023 than 2022. These data show facilities are making great progress to reduce CDI.
 Now Available: Annual Healthcare-Associated Infections report 2021
 |
|
The Washington State Department of Health (WA DOH) publishes an annual HAI report to provide data about the quality of hospital care in Washington, to monitor prevention progress, and to compare it to national averages and targets.
This report covers HAIs that patients have acquired in acute care hospitals throughout Washington in 2021. It also includes a report of influenza vaccination coverage among healthcare personnel during the 2021-2022 influenza season, which runs from October to May.
|
|
|
  Washington State Department of Health to provide frontline healthcare workers with infection prevention and control education and training.
Want to Become an Infection Control Superhero? We have the Perfect Start!
Start your journey to becoming an infection control superhero by taking the Washington State Project Firstline Leaning Modules. Washington Project Firstline has a series of online, interactive training modules on basic infection prevention and control practices. The educational, informative, and fun modules take approximately 20-minutes each to complete. Staff who complete all six modules will earn two contact-hours of continuing education credits.
The six-module series is based on CDC Project Firstline content and focuses on the following:
- Infection Control
- How Germs Can Spread on Surfaces
- How Germs Can Spread via Respiratory Droplets
|
- Proper Hand Hygiene
- Proper Use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- Cleaning and Disinfection
|
Modules are available at nwcphp.org and are offered in English and Spanish.
All corresponding job aids are now also offered in Russian, Tagalog, and Vietnamese. Check it out on our website under Education and Training!
Washington Project Firstline Promotional Flyer
|
|
|
Continue your superhero journey by checking out how your facility can become a Frontline Infection Prevention Champion!
Details can be found on our website and via this informational flyer.
|
|
Infection Prevention Education at your Fingertips!
Enhance your team's engagement in infection prevention! Text "JoinWAIPC" to 59309 (or scan the QR code) to receive free Washington Project Firstline text messages on timely infection prevention updates over your phone, wherever you are, including access to:
|
• Infection prevention fast facts to help raise awareness and keep engaged with infection control topics.
• Short, informative infection control training videos from the CDC.
• Tips and tools for developing staff’s foundational infection prevention knowledge.
|
|
|
|
 |
Don't forget to remind your healthcare friends, family, and coworkers/staff to sign up!
Text Campaign Flyer
CDC Project Firstline Micro-Learns!
Micro-learns are short, adaptable training resources to educate your team on a variety of topics through guided discussions. These discussions aim to assist in connecting infection control concepts to practice, helping healthcare workers recognize infection risks and to take action to stop the spread of germs. These micro-learns can be incorporated into your next team meeting or huddle.
Current topics include: (What to do when you see…)
 |
|
The Project Firstline Podcast, hosted by the Washington State Department of Health, is geared toward frontline healthcare workers to bring awareness to infection prevention and public health practices. We identify the importance and impact of infection prevention on our lives and on the lives of our community. |
New Episode:
• Antimicrobial Stewardship Mini-Series: Penicillin Allergies
Recent Episodes:
• Antimicrobial Stewardship Mini-Series: Introduction
• Standard and Transmission-Based Precautions
• Oncology Settings
|
|
|
There are three types of support currently provided by the WA DOH HAI/AR Occupational Health team:
- 3M online medical evaluation
- Fit tester training
- Consultation support for the rules and regulations of respiratory protection
The DOH HAI/AR Occupational Health team will continue to provide consultation support for your respiratory protection needs through June 30, 2024.
Reminder of the upcoming changes:
- Sign up for a DOH sponsored 3M online medical evaluation account before November 30, 2023, by emailing HAI-FitTest@doh.wa.gov.
- Initial or annual fit testing for non-skilled nursing facilities is no longer being supported by the DOH Occupational Health team. Visit our website to learn more about how to do your own fit testing.
Consultation support:
To assist facilities with the requirements for their respiratory protection program we have the following webinars:
If you have additional questions, please feel free to email us at
HAI-fitTest@doh.wa.gov.
|
|
Quarterly NHSN User Group for Hospitals
*Calls are facilitated through TEAMS*
Please contact Sandy Ng for a TEAMS invitation
This is a monthly forum for NHSN skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) to share and collaborate, improve reporting accuracy, and increase user knowledge.
Please contact Paula Parsons for more information
Calls scheduled for the second Thursday of the month, 11:00 a.m. – noon.
Upcoming dates:
November 9, 2023
December 14, 2023
NHSN Reporting Updates and Trainings
The NHSN Long Term Care and Vaccination Teams will be hosting webinars that focus on Reporting Influenza and RSV Cases and Vaccination for Long-term Care Facility Residents. Long-term care facilities (LTCF) will now be able to report influenza and RSV vaccine and case information in addition to reporting COVID-19 vaccine and case information for LTCF residents. Reporting influenza and RSV data for LTCF Residents is optional and will be completed through the Long-term Care (LTC) Component. LTCFs should continue to follow reporting requirements for submitting COVID-19 data information for residents and staff.
Upcoming webinars:
Topic: Optional Reporting of Influenza and RSV Cases and Vaccinations for Residents of Long-term Care Facilities (Replay)
- October 19, 2023, 2:00 p.m. EST (US and Canada)
-
Register in advance for this webinar.
Topic: Optional Reporting of Influenza and RSV Cases and Vaccinations for Residents of Long-term Care Facilities (Replay)
- October 26, 2023, 2:00 p.m. EST (US and Canada)
-
Register in advance for this webinar.
Long-term Care Facilities (LTCFs) can now prepare for collecting annual healthcare personnel (HCP) influenza vaccination summary data for the 2023-2024 influenza season. The reporting period for the 2023-2024 influenza season for Annual Healthcare Personnel (HCP) summary data is from October 1, 2023, through March 31, 2024. Facilities are only required to submit one report that covers the entire reporting period through the NHSN Healthcare Personnel Safety (HPS) Component, which is due in May 2024.
Plan to attend refresher training in November:
- Tuesday, November 21, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. EST
-
Register in advance for this webinar.
- Tuesday, November 28, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. EST
-
Register in advance for this webinar.
|
|
 The influence of hospital leadership support on burnout, psychological safety, and safety climate for US infection preventionists during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
This study aimed to explore infection preventionists’ perceptions of hospital leadership support for infection prevention and control programs during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and relationships with individual perceptions of burnout, psychological safety, and safety climate.
History of infection prevention and control
In the United States, the hospital discipline of infection control was established in the 1950s in response to a nationwide epidemic of nosocomial Staphylococcus aureus and the recognition of the need for nosocomial infection surveillance.
|
An Overview on Candida auris in Healthcare Settings
This article provides an overview on C. auris in healthcare settings. Candida auris has become a major concern in critical care medicine due to the increasing number of immunocompromised patients and candidiasis is the most frequent cause of fungal infections. C. auris and other fungal pathogens are responsible for at least 13 million infections and 1.5 million deaths globally per year. Screening patients for C. auris colonization enables facilities to identify individuals with C. auris colonization and to implement infection prevention and control measures. This pathogenic fungus shows an innate resilience, enabling survival and persistence in healthcare environment and the ability to rapidly colonize the patient’s skin and be easily transmitted within the healthcare setting, thus leading to a serious and prolonged outbreak.
|
|
 Puget Sound Chapter
The Puget Sound Region APIC chapter meets on the fourth Thursday of every month from noon to 2:00 p.m.
- We review important legislative updates, IPC news, and educational opportunities.
- Journal club and round table discussions keep IPs up-to-date on recent activity in the IPC field, as well as connect with local IPs.
Register in advance for meetings. Links to registration sites can be found on our social media and website a few weeks prior.
|
|
Join the Long-Term Care National Infection Prevention Forum
The National Infection Prevention Forum (NIPF) is for infection preventionists’ in long-term care. This national forum provides an opportunity for collaboration and sharing of experiences between infection preventionists in long-term care. This platform allows for rapid dissemination of updates and resources about infections in long-term care as they become available from CDC, CMS, or OHSA.
Participants are encouraged to answer each other’s questions and share resources and tools. This is open to all long-term care professionals focusing on infection prevention regardless of their infection prevention certification status or membership in any organization. To date, over 1,000 infection preventionists in long-term care are participating.
The American Health Care Association (AHCA) partnered with the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), with funding from CDC Project Firstline, to create the NIPF. As part of the collaboration, APIC long-term care experts will contribute to the discussions and answer questions as needed.
This forum utilizes the “Connect Communities” platform, which allows for the creation of email threads to keep discussions grouped and posting of resources and tools in an organized library. It also provides the ability to view list of participants in the forum.
If you are interested in participating, please visit the AHCA Connect webpage to request to join.
For questions, please contact LTC-NIPFhelp@ahca.org.
|
|
|
|
NHSN Nursing Home Reporting Changes for New “Up to Date” COVID-19 Vaccination Definition
As part of the new ACIP and CDC recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines, CDC has changed the definition of “up to date”. Data collected in the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) Weekly Long-term Care COVID-19 Vaccination Modules and Long-term Care COVID-19 Module will be revised for reporting weeks beginning on September 25, 2023, to align with this definition. CDC will host training webinars for long-term care facilities, including nursing homes, about how to accurately report the number of individuals who are up to date under the new guidance. Updates and information about upcoming training can be found on the CDC webpage.
|
A letter to all care settings regarding the following topic is now available online:
A letter to AFH providers and stakeholders regarding the following topic is now posted online:
You are subscribed to Healthcare-Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance (HAI&AR) Newsletter for Washington State Department of Health.
If you aren't already signed up for the Healthcare Associated Infections and Antibiotic Resistance newsletter, please visit the Department of Health's email subscribers page.
|
|
|
|
|
