Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 3, 2026
PRP as a New Approach to Prevent Infection: Preparation and In vitro Antimicrobial Properties of PRP
Published on: April 9, 2013
The Project Protect Infection Prevention Fellowship: A model for advancing infection prevention competency, quality
Janine D Reisinger1, Anna Wojcik1, Ian Jenkins2
1Health Research & Educational Trust, American Hospital Association, Chicago, IL.
Insights
Quality improvement fellowships effectively train infection prevention champions to reduce healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), specifically catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs). This model enhances leadership and implementation science skills for better patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Healthcare epidemiology
- Infection prevention and control
- Quality improvement science
Background:
- Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), particularly catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs), remain a significant challenge with stagnant progress in reduction.
- There is a critical need for enhanced strategies and dedicated leadership to combat HAIs.
- Quality improvement fellowships offer a promising avenue to cultivate expertise in infection prevention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of a quality improvement fellowship model designed to develop infection prevention champions.
- To assess the fellowship's impact on leadership development, knowledge enhancement, and competency in quality improvement and implementation science.
Main Methods:
- A multidisciplinary fellowship model was implemented, emphasizing collaboration and mentorship.
- Fellows received training aligned with the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Prevention Competency Model, focusing on leadership, performance improvement, and implementation science.
- Capstone projects allowed fellows to demonstrate acquired skills.
Main Results:
- The fellowship model demonstrated high satisfaction among fellows and mentors.
- Significant increases in fellows' knowledge and demonstrated competencies in leadership, quality improvement, and implementation science were observed.
- Capstone projects successfully showcased the practical application of learned skills.
Conclusions:
- A comprehensive fellowship model incorporating diverse educational topics, discussions, workshops, and mentorship is effective in developing infection prevention champions.
- This model serves as a transferable template for various healthcare settings and can be adapted to address a wide range of HAIs and performance improvement initiatives.
- The fellowship successfully equipped leaders with the necessary skills to drive improvements in infection prevention efforts.
Background:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2016 Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAI) Progress Report documented no change in catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) between 2009 and 2014. There is a need for investment in additional efforts to reduce HAIs, specifically CAUTI. Quality improvement fellowships are 1 approach to expand the capacity of dedicated leaders and infection prevention champions.
Methods:
The fellowship used a model that expanded collaboration among disciplines and focused on partnership by recruiting a diverse cohort of fellows and by providing 1-on-1 mentoring to enhance leadership development. The curriculum supported the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Prevention Competency Model in 2 domains: leadership and performance improvement and implementation science.
Results:
The fellowship was successful. The fellows and mentors had self-reported high level of satisfaction, fellows' knowledge increased, and they demonstrated leadership, quality improvement, and implementation science competency within the completed capstone projects.
Conclusions:
A model encompassing diverse educational topics, discussions, workshops, and mentorship can serve as a template for developing infection prevention champions. Although this project focused on CAUTI, this template can be used in a variety of settings and applied to a range of other HAIs and performance improvement projects.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Healthcare Associated Infections II: Preventive Measures
The best practices for preventing healthcare-associated infections include hand hygiene, patient risk...
01:20Infection
The chain begins with pathogens: bacteria, viruses, fungi, prions, or parasites such as protozoa helminths. These can be present on the skin as transient or resident flora, or they can be acquired from the environment. Identifying and treating the type of infection and...
01:25Models of Health Promotion and Illness Prevention I
The health belief model (HBM) attempts to predict health-related behavior in specific belief patterns. According to the HBM, a person's...
01:18Models of Health Promotion and Illness Prevention II
The agent-host-environment model states that disease results...
01:26Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection
The integrity and count of the white blood cells help the body resist pathogens and fight infection. When impaired, it reduces the body's resistance to pathogens. The acidic pH levels of the gastrointestinal, genitourinary tracts, and skin...
01:25Transmission-based Precautions II: Airborne and Protective Environment
Airborne precautions:
Use airborne precautions when treating patients known or suspected to have diseases that spread through the air—for example, tuberculosis or measles. These organisms are present in smaller droplets expelled by an infected person and...