In a recent spotlight of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) conference, Monika Pogorzelska-Maziarz, a distinguished epidemiologist and associate professor at Thomas Jefferson University, shed light on the profound influence COVID-19 has exerted on infection prevention and control (IPC) practices in acute care hospitals. The discourse is particularly critical for those striving to maintain a safe healthcare environment during unprecedented challenges. Pogorzelska-Maziarz’s insights were built on an electronic survey run by the National Healthcare Safety Network from August to December 2023, which included responses from 594 IPC departments across 1,400 hospitals.
As such, it provides a broad perspective on the state of infection prevention during the pandemic. A significant find was that 50% of the responding facilities experienced increases in Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), including central-line-associated bloodstream infections, catheter-associated urinary tract infections, and ventilator-associated pneumonia. A triad of factors – staffing shortages, higher patient acuity, and the utilization of travel nurses – significantly contributed to this upsurge. Moreover, the study underscored an increase in medical device utilization, accompanied by a downturn in bedside patient monitoring, complicating the situation further.
Despite the challenges, the survey revealed a silver lining. It underscored the amplified visibility and influence of IPC departments within healthcare facilities. Pogorzelska-Maziarz noted this led to an intensification of IPC efforts – including increased monitoring, frontline staff re-education on IPC protocols, execution of environmental care rounds, and bolstered isolation compliance monitoring. A commendable 57% of hospitals also took proactive measures by forming an HAI Task Force or Committee, while additionally implementing nurse-driven catheter removal and insertion prevention protocols.
As an aftermath, IPC professionals found their roles diverging from usual routines – spending less time on the floor with staff and more time devising policies to navigate the dynamic landscape. Lastly, a significant revelation was the increased pressure perceived by 19% of respondents from management to tweak HAI reporting practices, demonstrating a clear need for greater transparency in management practices during a health crisis. Drawing on these insights, professionals in the field are urged to advocate for continual documentation, evaluation of IPC practices during health crises, and increased preparedness for effectively responding to future pandemics.