The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) has expanded its "Targeting Zero" initiative for 2009 to offer comprehensive education and guidance to prevent the most common and fatal health care-associated infections (HAIs).
"Targeting Zero" features Webinars, conferences and practical tools such as HAI elimination guides. APIC’s evidence-based elimination guides translate recommendations from the Centers from Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) into infection prevention strategies for health care workers.
In 2009, APIC will publish a new elimination guide for ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), the leading cause of death from HAIs. VAP is a type of pneumonia occurring in people being assisted by mechanical ventilators. In addition to VAP, APIC will also publish elimination guides for catheter-associated urinary tract infections (UTIs), catheter-associated blood stream infections, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in long-term care settings and Acinetobacter baumannii, an antibiotic-resistant bacterium causing infections in wounded military personnel.
"APIC will continue to provide direction and guidance for health care workers through clearly outlined implementation strategies for reduction of HAIs," said APIC CEO Kathy Warye. "Our expanded offering has been developed in response to infection preventionists and health care leaders who are under increased pressure to improve outcomes and preserve health care dollars."
Targeting Zero was initiated in 2008 with educational programs aimed at preventing MRSA, Clostridium difficile infection and the three infections considered preventable by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS): catheter-associated urinary tract infections (UTIs), catheter-associated blood stream infections and mediastinitis (a deep infection following coronary artery bypass surgery).
As part of the 2008 Targeting Zero initiative APIC conducted a National Prevalence Study of C. difficile in U.S. Healthcare Facilities, the first study to calculate the true magnitude of this infection in the nation’s hospitals. The study indicated that 13 out of every 1,000 inpatients were either infected or colonized with C. difficile, a rate 6.5 to 20 times greater than previous incidence estimates. C. difficile is a bacterium that causes diarrhea and more serious intestinal conditions such as colitis.
"New pay-for-performance mandates from CMS and private insurers are driving increased interest in infection prevention," said Warye. "But the most important reason to eliminate HAIs is to save lives and reduce suffering. While not all infections are preventable, working toward zero should be the goal. APIC urges all health care institutions to pursue zero HAIs and address the resources, systems and cultural changes that will support this effort."
For more information about APIC Targeting Zero educational programs, please visit: www.apic.org
Source: The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology