Development of a deployment infection control course

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Military Medicine
• Public Health

Background:

• Multidrug-resistant bacteria are a significant concern in combat casualties from Iraq and Afghanistan.
• Nosocomial transmission is identified as a primary source of these infections in deployed settings.
• Enhancing infection control (IC) in combat theater hospitals is a critical area for improvement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the development and implementation of a specialized 5-day infection control (IC) training course.
• To provide just-in-time training for personnel leading IC efforts in deployed environments.
• To address the unique challenges of infection control in a combat setting.

Main Methods:

• A 5-day IC course was designed and delivered to personnel responsible for IC leadership during deployment.
• Pre- and post-course tests were administered to assess knowledge improvement.
• A follow-up questionnaire was used to evaluate the course's impact on deployed personnel's IC performance.

Main Results:

• Twenty-nine students attended the initial six offerings of the IC course.
• An average improvement of 21% in knowledge was observed between pre- and post-course tests.
• Follow-up data indicated that the course enhanced the performance of IC duties for deployed students.

Conclusions:

• The developed 5-day IC course effectively improved knowledge and performance among military personnel.
• The training successfully addressed the specific challenges of infection control in combat environments.
• This initiative offers a model for deployment-specific training to combat multidrug-resistant bacteria in deployed settings.