Staffing and structure of infection prevention and control programs.
BACKGROUND
The nature of infection prevention and control is changing; however, little is known about current staffing and structure of infection prevention and control programs.


METHODS
Our objectives were to provide a snapshot of the staffing and structure of hospital-based infection prevention and control programs in the United States. A Web-based survey was sent to 441 hospitals that participate in the National Healthcare Safety Network.


RESULTS
The response rate was 66% (n = 289); data were examined on 821 professionals. Infection preventionist (IP) staffing was significantly negatively related to bed size, with higher staffing in smaller hospitals (P < .001). Median staffing was 1 IP per 167 beds. Forty-seven percent of IPs were certified, and 24 percent had less than 2 years of experience. Most directors or hospital epidemiologists were reported to have authority to close beds for outbreaks always or most of the time (n = 225, 78%). Only 32% (n = 92) reported using an electronic surveillance system to track infections.


CONCLUSIONS
This study is the first to provide a comprehensive description of current infection prevention and control staffing, organization, and support in a select group of hospitals across the nation. Further research is needed to identify effective staffing levels for various hospital types as well as examine how the IP role is changing over time.
Stone
Patricia W
PW
Columbia University School of Nursing, New York, NY. Electronic address: ps2024@columbia.edu.
Dick
Andrew
A
RAND Corporation Pittsburgh, PA.
Pogorzelska
Monika
M
Columbia University School of Nursing, New York, NY.
Horan
Teresa C
TC
Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, National Center for Preparedness, Detection and Control of Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA.
Furuya
E Yoko
EY
Division of Infectious Diseases, Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons, New York, NY.
Larson
Elaine
E
Columbia University School of Nursing, New York, NY.
D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control; D058016:Health Facility Administration; D006742:Hospital Bed Capacity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006761:Hospitals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016357:Infection Control Practitioners / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D000078329:Workforce