Practice resources

Heightening Awareness for the Infection Preventionist in the Behavioral Health Setting: Top Ten Key Points

This document provides a comprehensive overview of key principles and challenges encountered in various behavioral healthcare settings, including outpatient facilities and inpatient units. With a focus on enhancing awareness, it aims to empower Infection Preventionists to effectively address concerns among both patients and staff.

Top Ten Key Points Infection Preventionists Need to Know about AAMI

The Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to advance safe and effective technology to improve health. AAMI is a primary source of consensus standards, both national and international, for the medical device industry, as well as practical information, support, and guidance for healthcare technology and sterilization professionals. This document is intended to assist Infection Preventionists in selecting, interpreting, and utilizing advisory documents regarding processing medical devices and equipment.

USP <797>: Pharmaceutical Compounding—Sterile Preparations

USP <797>: Pharmaceutical Compounding—Sterile Preparations describes the minimum requirements that apply to all persons who prepare compounded sterile preparations (CSPs) and all places where CSPs are prepared. USP <797> has been revised for the first time since 2008, and the implementation date for the revision is November 1, 2023. The upcoming implementation date for USP <797> offers infection preventionists (IPs) opportunities to educate and support staff in pharmacy, nursing, anesthesia, microbiology/labs, environmental services, and facilities to minimize harm. Occasionally, IPs pose questions regarding the most recent changes to USP <797>. This document has summarized the key points we think are most important for IPs to understand. 

Gel or Shellac Nail Polish 

APIC supports this statement found on the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) clincal practice FAQ page related to gel or shellac nail polish.

Animals in Healthcare Facilities

Animals in Healthcare Facilities: Recommendations to Minimize Potential Risks (Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, May 2015, vol. 36, no. 5)

This White Paper provides general guidance for managing animals in healthcare. It includes a literature review, review of hospital policies, results of a survey on institutional policies on animals in healthcare and guidance to minimize infection risks associated with animals in healthcare. Specifically, animal assisted activity animals, service animals, research animals, and personal pet visitation are the focus.

The authors stress that the recommendations and guidance in the article are not evidence-based but rather, are practical, expert opinion based recommendations made in the absence of robust evidence and research.

The paper includes specific guidance on managing the different animal categories and specifically stresses the importance of:

• developing a policy regarding animals in healthcare; 
• compliance with state and regulatory agency guidelines; 
• outlining clear definitions about service animals and other categories of animals; 
• proposes detailed recommendations for specific animal categories;
• continuing research in this arena to develop more evidence-based guidance.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) duodenoscopes

APIC-SHEA infection prevention and consumer FAQs related to infection risk from duodenoscope procedures. 

Important information on the status of the 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa and precautions you can take.

Bulk Package of Contrast Material SBAR

Information and recommendations related to infection control risk with innappropriate use of pharmacy bulk packages of IV contrast materials. 

Antimicrobial stewardship 
Antimicrobial stewardship is a coordinated program that promotes the appropriate use of antimicrobials, improves patient outcomes, reduces microbial resistance to antibiotics, and decreases the spread of infections caused by multidrug-resistant organisms.

Compendium of Strategies to Prevent Healthcare-Associated Infections in Acute Care Hospitals 
The Compendium consolidates infection prevention research regarding six of the most common healthcare-associated infections: Clostridium difficile, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, central line-associated bloodstream infections, ventilator-associated pneumonia, catheter-associated urinary tract infections, and surgical site infections. The Compendium was developed by a partnership of healthcare organizations.

Healthcare personnel immunization 
Obtain immunization resources and read more on APIC’s position on influenza immunizations of healthcare personnel.

Choosing surveillance technology

Identify the surveillance system that will work best for your individual facility.

Practice Guidance Position statements 
These documents are designed to assist in practice development and decision making .