Strategies to improve the implementation of infection control link nurse programs in acute care hospitals

BACKGROUND

Infection control practitioners face several challenges when implementing infection control link nurse (ICLN) programs. Identification of strategies to address these can improve the impact of current ICLN programs and guide their future implementation.

AIM

We aimed to identify implementation strategies for ICLN programs in acute care hospitals with the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR)-Expert Recommendations for Implementing Change (ERIC) Implementation Strategy Matching tool.

METHODS

An expert panel matched 19 implementation and sustainment barriers, identified i n our previous studies, to the most fitting CFIR constructs. Subsequently, we applied the CFIR- ERIC Matching Tool and generated a list of implementation strategies to address these barriers.

FINDINGS

Barriers were predominantly found within the CFIR domains 'inner setting' (characteristics of the implementing organization) and 'process' (stages of implementation). With the ERIC Matching Tool we identified the ten most important strategies to address barriers of implementation of ICLN programs: identify and prepare champions, conduct local consensus discussions, assess for readiness and identify barriers and facilitators, inform local opinion leaders, use facilitation, create a learning collaborative, conduct local needs assessments, develop a formal implementation blueprint, build a coalition, and identify early adopters.

CONCLUSION

The CFIR domains 'inner setting' and 'process' appeared as most important to impede implementation of ICLN programs in acute care hospitals. Application of the CFIR-ERIC tool highlighted the identification and preparation of champions as the leading strategy for the successful implementation of these programs. With this tool, strategies can be specifically tailored towards local implementation and sustainment barriers.

Infection control link nurses in acute care hospitals: a scoping review

Background

Involving link nurses in infection prevention and control is a strategy to improve clinical practice that has been implemented in hospitals worldwide. However, little is known about the use, the range and benefits of this strategy. We aimed to identify key concepts of infection control link nurses (ICLN) and ICLN programs, to evaluate the effect of such programs, and to identify gaps in the evidence base.

Methods

In a scoping review, we searched PubMed, CINAHL, Google and Google Scholar for manuscripts on ICLN in acute care hospitals. We included research- and opinion-based papers, abstracts, reports and guidelines.

Results

We included 29 publications and identified three key concepts: the profile of ICLN, strategies to support ICLN, and the implementation of ICLN programs. The majority of included studies delineates the ICLN profile with accompanying roles, tasks and strategies to support ICLN, without a thorough evaluation of the implementation process or effects. Few studies report on the effect of ICLN programs in terms of patient outcomes or guideline adherence, with positive short term effects.

Conclusion

This scoping review reveals a lack of robust evidence on the effectiveness of ICLN programs. Current best practice for an ICLN program includes a clear description of the ICLN profile, education on infection prevention topics as well as training in implementation skills, and support from the management at the ward and hospital level. Future research is needed to evaluate the effects of ICLN on clinical practice and to further develop ICLN programs for maximal impact.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s13756-019-0476-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Infection control link professionals' knowledge of Clostridium difficile

lostridium difficile is a common cause of diarrhoea in hospitalised patients. It can result in longer hospital stays and due to the need for strict isolation procedures can add significantly to nursing workload. Additionally, it can be very distressing for the patient and if patients are vulnerable to infection it can have serious health consequences. Cross-transmission can be limited by good infection prevention and control practices, however this relies on a sound knowledge base and support from the infection control team. This small-scale study reports on infection control link professionals' knowledge and assesses how they would utilise this knowledge in practice situations. Findings imply that the knowledge base concerning the microorganism was poor, but knowledge relating to general infection procedures was good.

The strengthening of infection control practice by the use of professional portfolios for infection control link professionals

Effective solutions to reduce the rate of healthcare-associated infection necessitate direct action at many different levels. One of the many strategies at a large teaching hospital in the UK has been the introduction and development of the infection control link role. This paper describes the development of this role via the use of a professional portfolio. Monthly seminars were conducted with infection control link professionals. The aim of the seminars was to help members to develop their infection control knowledge base and practice. To achieve this, portfolios were introduced and used by the infection control link professionals. The factors influencing the development of the role and portfolio usage are identified and the implications for nursing practice, in the context of infection control practice are addressed.