Carilion Clinic, a Roanoke based health system, showcased the measurable power of well-staffed infection prevention and control teams. By expanding its team from 11 to 24 full-time personnel, Carilion Clinic accomplished a significant reduction in healthcare-associated infections. Over the span of 2020 to 2023, the eight-hospital system diligently grew its infection prevention team. These strategic personnel additions directly led to striking reductions in various types of infections – a 57% decline in catheter-associated urinary tract infections, a 52% drop in Clostridioides difficile infections, a 26% decrease in colon surgical site infections, and a 16% lower rate of central line-associated bloodstream infections.
Maimuna Jatta, RN, MSN, Carilion Clinic’s distinguished director of infection prevention and control, suggested a useful technique for infection prevention leaders aiming for scaling up teams. Jatta underscored the importance of showcasing the direct financial Return on Investment (ROI) of preventing healthcare-associated infections, when arguing for a budget increase to hire more infection prevention staff. Critical to this process is collaboration with financial executives to conduct a nuanced analysis of the cost per healthcare-associated infection event and to project potential savings from infection reduction. A powerful, data-driven business case for additional infection prevention staffing and infrastructural support can thus be built on these solid financial projections.
As part of a June 18 news release from the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Jatta’s advice may well be a game-changer for numerous healthcare establishments grappling with infection control challenges. By presenting infection reduction not just as an emergency healthcare measure but also as a worthy financial investment, she has outlined a compelling blueprint for the sustainable reinforcement of infection prevention staffing.