The COVID-19 pandemic laid bare the critical nature of infection prevention and control. Although healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in the United States had been declining since 2015, in both 2020 and 2021, the first two years of the pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported increases in HAIs, including central line–associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI), catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI), ventilator-associated events (VAE), and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteremia. These increases reveal the need for renewed back-to-basics attention to infection prevention and control. And because an organization’s ability to prevent and control infection is inextricably linked to its physical environment, a thoughtfully managed environment is a crucial piece in the infection prevention and control puzzle.
The fifth edition of the best-selling Infection Prevention and Control Issues in the Environment of Care is designed to help infection preventionists, other infection prevention and control practitioners, and physical environment professionals collaborate to design, improve, and manage an infection prevention and control program that will protect patients, staff, and visitors from the threat of infection. This edition explores the keys to maintaining a safe, infection-free environment, which includes reducing and controlling environmental hazards and risks. It examines various infection risks, both in the United States and abroad, that can be minimized or eradicated through proper management of the physical environment. Topics new to the fifth edition include expanded information on utility systems, including prevention of waterborne illness, and expanded information on planning for and managing infectious disease emergencies, including lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic.
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"The book was well written and should be well received. The updates to the new edition are necessary due to the changes in health care during the pandemic. It provides fundamentals for beginning infection preventionists and offers a deep dive with new content for experienced professionals."
-- Amy Colburn, MSN (VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System) Doody's Review
"This book examines a considerable number of topics that are useful for IPC professionals. It is exhilarating to gain insights from the Joint Commission for an area that is a comprehensive focus of their accreditation process..."
"Because of the topics new to this edition, it is essential to replace the previous edition."
-- Dyanne Medlock, BSN (VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System) Doody's Review - previous edition
The primary audience of this book is anyone active in infection prevention. It is easily read and understood and will benefit all areas of practice.