Surveyors have told us that they will be looking closely at infection control and antibiotic resistance in the coming year.  The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) emphasized the need for robust programs last year as part of the rulemaking on requirements for participation.  Now is the time for nursing centers to take a look at their infection control and prevention programs and make any needed improvements.

AHCA offers up five steps to help you on your way:

1. Review your current infection prevention and control program, ideally with a multidisciplinary team. At a minimum involve the Medical Director, Director of Nursing, Administrator and Consultant Pharmacist. As a starting point, consider the CDC Infection Control Assessment Tool used by state health departments to assess infection prevention practices.
2. Compare your current program to the proposed reform of requirements of participation, infection prevention and control related sections.
3. Be sure you are using the latest guidelines. Look to CDC as a resource.
4. Review the Core Elements of Antibiotic Stewardship for Nursing Homes released by CDC late last year. Listen to an AHCA member webinar from Dr. Nimalie Stone of the CDC. Consider taking action on one element at a time to improve Antibiotic Stewardship in your center.
5. Collaborate with other providers and partners such as local hospitals, state health department or others to share ideas, resources and capture opportunities for coordination.
   

In addition to these great tips from AHCA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is calling on health care providers, including, health care facility administrators, to continue to do their part to prevent healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).  A new report recommends doctors and nurses combine three critical efforts to accomplish this:

• Prevent the spread of bacteria between patients;
• Prevent infections related to surgery and/or placement of a catheter; and
• Improve antibiotic use through stewardship.

For more CDC resources on infection control, visit Making Health Care Safer.