The MHA Keystone Center, a recognized healthcare organization, is set to launch an infection control quality improvement cohort. The initiative will provide comprehensive technical assistance to a group of ten selected long-term care (LTC) facilities. This project, named ‘Strengthening Long-term Care Infection Prevention and Control Practices to Address Emerging Pathogens’, aims to bolster existing infection prevention strategies and prepare LTC facilities to competently combat Candida auris (C. auris) and other emerging pathogens.
The ten LTC facilities chosen to participate in this cohort will benefit from enhanced engagement with their frontline staff, promoting a deeper understanding of best practices in infection prevention and control. The participating facilities will receive an on-site infection control assessment response visit as well as technical assistance in both on-site and remote formats. C. auris, a severe yeast infection first identified in Michigan in 2021, has been spreading rapidly across the state.
To date, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has reported 1,390 confirmed cases of C. auris across 12 counties, with the majority found in Southeast Michigan. C. auris can cause a wide spectrum of illnesses, from superficial skin infections to life-threatening bloodstream infections and is predominantly found in healthcare facilities, leading to heightened concern amongst LTC facilities in caring for residents infected with C. auris. This new initiative aims to alleviate these concerns by increasing facility competence and confidence in admitting and providing quality care for residents affected by C. auris, particularly while under enhanced barrier precautions.
Interested members can get further details or enroll in the cohort by reaching out to Kristy Shafer at the MHA Keystone Center. To stay informed about the latest developments in the healthcare scene in Michigan, healthcare professionals can subscribe to the MHA Monday Report weekly newsletter or tune in to the MiCare Champion Cast podcast.