Bryan Connors published in Patient Safety & Quality Healthcare (PSQH)

When Proven Solutions Don’t Work
Preventing Infection From Unexpected Sources Happens With Clear Communication

Bryan Connors, MS, CIH, HEM
Managing Principal Consultant, Healthcare

Healthcare facilities have made huge strides in improving infection prevention and control, yet the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that, on any given day, one in 31 hospital patients may acquire a healthcare-associated infection (HAI). No matter how effectively an organization plans to mitigate common causes of HAIs, there remains the risk of exposure to unexpected or difficult-to-root-out pathogens. Eliminating these less well-known risks can be tricky. It requires careful planning and clear communication among infection prevention professionals, facilities staff, clinical caregivers, and environmental services (EVS) teams.

This article highlights three investigations that uncovered unexpected pathways of healthcare associated infections, less well-known sources of infections, and novel approaches to pinpointing and mitigating the root cause of infection. With this insight, healthcare professionals can find ways to partner more quickly, creatively, and effectively stop healthcare associated outbreaks.

Read the full article in PSQH.