By Healthcare Facilities Today

To help long-term care facilities implement comprehensive infection prevention programs, the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) has published the Infection Preventionist’s Guide to Long-Term Care, according to an article on the Infection Control website.

Infection preventionists in long-term care facilities (LTCF) face unique challenges due to the nature of the care setting and its aging resident population, the article said.  An estimated 1.5 million infections occur annually in LTCF, resulting in 350,000 to 400,000 deaths.

“With more than 15,000 long-term care facilities in the United States, and a national priority to prevent healthcare-associated infections, APIC’s new book guides LTCFs through the essential components of an evidence-based infection prevention program,” “ Katrina Crist, APIC CEO, said in the article.

The Infection Preventionists Guide to Long-Term Care is accompanied by a CD-ROM with customizable forms, tools, and resources. 

It includes examples, visuals, checklists, and references to help increase the understanding of:

• Environmental cleaning and disinfection

•  Regulatory requirements

• Surveillance and reporting

• Unique long-term care issues such as care transitions and life enrichment activities

Read the article.