Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement
Concurrent Education Session - 60 minutes
Maureen Lansing, BSN, RN, CIC
Infection Preventionist
Dartmouth College, The Dartmouth Institute Public Health graduate student
Alexandria, Virginia
Nothing to disclose
Erin Reynolds, BSN, RN, CCRN, CNML
Clinical Director of Medical Surgical Intensive Care Unit
Inova Alexandria Hospital
Kensington , Maryland
Nothing to disclose
Bassel Molaeb, MPH, CIC, FAPIC
Infection Control Manager
Al-Moosa Specialist Hospital - KSA
Al-Ahsa, Ash Sharqiyah
Nothing to disclose
Achieving zero infections in a medical surgical ICU is a complex challenge with easily achievable solutions. This session covers the example of an MSICU that implemented an IPC program that culminated in an impressive 594-day HAI-free streak.
Participants will cover the tactics employed including:
• HAI review, including CLABSI, CAUTI, C. diff, and Ventilator-Associated Events;
• Internal communication mechanisms used, including a “Day Since last Infection” posting in the unit;
• Increased transparency around infections and hand hygiene with better information sharing with both leaders and frontline staff; and
• An optimized mandatory skills fair, which transitioned from poster presentations to hands-on review and return demonstrations.
This session will discuss how the MSICU team’s commitment to patient safety led to the creation of several actionable tactics such as the development of a transfer checklist, two-person dressing changes, and Foley inserts, voluntary hand hygiene “policing” on every shift, staff peri care training, and increased physician buy-in.
Participants will explore how these interventions led to sustainable, long-lasting success, especially once the goal of zero infections was achieved. This session will discuss how the implementation team of nursing, IPC, and leadership was able to change belief through experiences to promote compliance and will share strategies, changes in practice, and lessons learned throughout this project.