A compelling video clip showcasing the transmission of the bacterium Clostridioides difficile scooped up top honours at the annual meeting of the Association for Professionals in Infection Prevention and Epidemiology. With the intent to demystify transmission-based infection, particularly C. difficile, the winning video ‘Chain of Transmission with Clostridioides difficile’ was the brainchild of a team of infection preventionists at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU).
According to Kaila Cooper, MSN, RN, CIC, the nursing director of VCU Health’s infection prevention program, the goal was to highlight the importance of hand hygiene and environmental awareness in an engaging and memorable way. The video, which takes a page from Allstate’s ‘Mayhem’ commercials, is an evocative portrayal of a C.difficile character exhibiting how contagions can easily proliferate within healthcare facilities.
The center has produced over 100 on-demand courses, clinical training videos, and webinars, all aided by the Virginia Infection Prevention Training Center, where Cooper also holds the position of associate director. The winner was selected by a panel of judges from the conference’s Annual Conference Committee. Despite the disappointment of another video from the center missing out on the ‘People’s Choice’ category, the team remains committed to their mission of infection prevention education.
The training center, which began with a $6 million federal grant for COVID-19-related endeavors from the Virginia Department of Health, continues its mission online, although the center lost its grant funding earlier this year due to the rollback of billions of dollars dedicated for state and local public health initiatives during the pandemic. Cooper assures, however, that all content remains accessible on the center’s website, with efforts underway to ensure their longevity.