Infection control professionals are expert consultants. They provide direction to leaders and staff regarding best practices for infection prevention and control (IPC) in health-care settings and partners such as schools and contracted service providers. Their goal is to minimize risk to patients, staff, and visitors by helping others prevent the spread of infections.
Infection control professionals:
- Help develop and communicate IPC policies, procedures, education programs, and operating strategies
- Follow IPC-related best practices as an example to other health-care workers
- Educate and train staff, students, and others accessing the site on IPC practices such as hand hygiene and correct use of personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Coordinate and provide leadership in outbreak management
- Follow up on potential exposure situations
- Conduct surveillance of infections, outbreaks, and other adverse events in health-care settings
- Assess risk and implement control measures to prevent future adverse events
- Prepare and submit reports detailing IPC surveillance, compliance, and strategies
- Keep up with IPC standards and guidelines developed by agencies such as Alberta Health, Alberta Health Services, the Public Health Agency of Canada, and the World Health Organization as they apply to specific health-care settings
- Perform and help others perform infection-control risk assessments
- Conduct literature reviews on IPC, study the findings, suggest changes, and follow up as needed
Infection control professionals may also be consulted for new construction or site renovation. They ensure the area is prepared for infection control. This involves ensuring proper PPE is included in planning, along with built-in areas for:
- Hand hygiene
- Clean and sterile storage
- Dirty utilities
Infection control professionals work closely with many other health-care providers, including:
Infection control professionals collaborate with medical health offices. They also work with hospital support staff. These can include staff from departments including workplace health and safety, maintenance, engineering, and housekeeping.