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Integrating infection control and environmental management work systems to prevent Clostridioides difficile infection

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Julie A Keating, Vishala Parmasad, Linda McKinley, Nasia Safdar
PMID: 37329984
PMCID: PMC10773464 (available on 2024-12-01)
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajic.2023.06.008

Affiliations

  1. William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Madison, WI; Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI.
  2. Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI.
  3. William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Madison, WI.
  4. William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Madison, WI; Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI. Electronic address: Ns2@medicine.wisc.edu.

Abstract

Effective infection prevention and control within health care settings requires collaboration and coordination between infection control and environmental management teams. However, the work systems of these teams can be difficult to integrate despite their shared goals. We provide results from a qualitative study of Clostridioides difficile infection prevention in Veterans Affairs facilities regarding challenges in coordination between these teams and opportunities to improve coordination and maximize infection prevention activities.

Keywords: Clostridioides difficile; Environmental management; Infection prevention and control.