Infection Preventionist Boot Camp: Essentials The first course covers the essentials of Infection Preventionists responsibilities.  It is composed of 17 seminars.  These seminars will be available online on demand as well as on CD or DVD, depending on the seminar. The Essentials Boot Camp course will cover the following topics: Essentials of an Infection Prevention Program Key elements of an effective program including, responsibilities, evidence based practices and written policies, committee structures and mechanisms, risk assessment, annual goal setting and documentation will be discussed.  An example of a formal annual evaluation will help explain the important essentials of this document as well. Standard Precautions Standard Precautions are a comprehensive set of practices and precautions designed to prevent transmission of microorganisms amongst patients and healthcare workers, regardless of patient’s diagnosis. Practical examples to help understand the differences between normal flora, colonization and pathogens will begin this seminar.  We will then focus on practices associated with patient placement and transportation, management of equipment including issues with such patient owned equipment such as fans, humidifiers, use of PPEs, respiratory etiquette displays, safe injection practices and post mortem care.  Issues with toys and animals in the facilities will end the program. Transmission Based Precautions Practical and effective ways for basic understanding, implementing, teaching and monitoring of the transmission based precautions in a variety of healthcare settings will be covered in this seminar.    Examples to explain ordering, patient placement and transport, personnel protective equipment practices, and the management of food, linen and cleaning will also be emphasized. Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure Control Plan OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogen Standard has given us explicit directions on the key elements that must be included in an effective program. We will discuss these elements included risk categories, controls, signage, education of employees and patients and mandatory record keeping.  The Department of Transportations (DOT) disposal, storage and transportation of your regulated waste management will also be introduced. Sharps Injury Prevention This seminar focuses on the Exposure Control Plan and methods of locating, acquiring, evaluating, implementing and documenting sharps injury prevention products.  The concepts of Tiers of Safety will be addressed.  The most common OSHA citations will be discussed.. Tuberculosis Exposure Control Plan The risk of transmission of tuberculosis is always of concern if patients cannot be screened prior to admission to your facility.  This seminar will show practical examples for performing a risk assessment, screening of patients and the implementation and discontinuing of Airborne Precautions.  Antiseptics and Hand Hygiene Antiseptics are germicides that we use on skin.  We will discuss the use of these agents on hands, skin preparation prior to surgery, procedures,  and  the placement of intravenous and central vascular lines.  We will also discuss issues of hand lotions, artificial nails, body piercings, tattoos and electrolysis. Microbiology and the Lab’s Role in IP Fundamental knowledge of microorganisms, their identification, significance and basic laboratory techniques will be covered in this seminar.  We will also discuss how the laboratory assists the IP in developing their effective programs particularly during outbreaks. Common Organisms and Infections Staph, Ecoli, Cdiff, Pseudomonas, Enterococci, Enterobacteriaces and other organisms will be discussed focusing on epidemiology, transmission, methods of control, clinical manifestations, and treatments. Device related infections Infections associated with central lines, urinary Foleys, ventilators and surgical instruments are considered mostly preventable.  This seminar will focus on the risks, practical tools, education pieces, monitors and report processes associated with these infections. Cleaning and Disinfection Using examples of equipment, instruments and procedures, this seminar will inform the participant of  best practice cleaning processes, the Spalding classifications  and effective mechanisms for monitoring processes and patient outcomes . Sterilization There are many crucial points in the handling of sterilized instruments that can increase the risk of infections. This seminar will help the new IP understand the spacial, HVAC, storage of sterile items and the cleaning, disinfection and sterilization of these items.  Types of sterilizers and examples of physical, chemical and biological monitors of these sterilizers will also be discussed. Surveillance Surveillance is the systematic method of collecting, consolidating, analyzing and reporting data concerned with infections in your facility.  This seminar will describe the assessment of  isks, infection definitions,  collection of data, basic calculations, analysis and report processes.   Food  and Nutrition Food-borne illnesses and outbreaks are a risk in all healthcare facilities.  This section will focus on how and where to find information local health regulations, employee education requirement, sanitation agents and practices and introduction to the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points ( HACCP) principles.  Laundry Services Towels, patient linen, uniforms and other textiles can be a source of large numbers of pathogens.  This section will discuss the safe laundry processes focusing on handling of these textiles from the unit to the laundry services itself. Employee Health Issues One of the primary goals of the IP program should be to protect its employees as well as patients.   This seminar will discuss the medical health inventory upon hire, training,  communicable illness , job related illnesses immunization program and exposure protocols as they relate to IP. Regulatory/Accrediting Agencies Many regulatory and accrediting agencies and professional organizations have given assistance as well as increased demands on infection prevention programs.  This seminar will cover the role of these agencies  which include but are limited to AHA, APIC, SHEA,CDC, CMS, FDA,IHI, Joint Commission, NIOSH,OSHA, DOT,EPA AAAHC INFECTION PREVENTIONIST BOOT CAMP Click on the links above to learn more about Infection Preventionists Boot Camp and how it can help you immerse yourself in the important world of Infection Control!