However, more than half (55 percent) reported that the Ebola crisis did not spur their hospitals to provide more resources to infection prevention and control.
APIC polled 15,000 of its members for the survey. Respondents include 981 infection preventionists in acute care hospitals in the U.S.
The following are three additional findings from the survey:
1. Just 10 percent of respondents said their hospital added infection prevention personnel
2. Roughly a third (37 percent) said they received support for staff training programs on infection control measures
3. More than half (62 percent) reported they are still training staff on how to manage patients with Ebola
“With the ongoing threat of emerging infectious diseases and antibiotic-resistant organisms, we remain concerned that many facilities are lagging behind in providing adequate support to protect patients and healthcare workers,” said Susan Dolan, RN, president-elect of APIC and a hospital epidemiologist at Children’s Hospital Colorado in Aurora. “We urge healthcare leaders to assess the needs of their infection prevention programs and dedicate the necessary staff, training and technology resources to this critical area.”
More articles on Ebola:
MedStar Washington Hospital’s Ebola team earns patient safety award
UMass Medical Center receives $20M CDC grant to further prevent Ebola in Liberia
Portable, rapid DNA test detects Ebola, other pathogens within 5 hours
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