Resources needed by critical access hospitals to address identified infection prevention and control program gaps.

OBJECTIVE: The study examined resources needed by Infection Preventionists (IP) to address infection prevention and control (IPC) program gaps.

DESIGN: A 49-question survey.

SETTING: Licensed Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) in Federal Emergency Management Area (FEMA) Region VII.

PARTICIPANTS: IP at licensed CAHs.

METHODS: The survey conducted between December 2020 and January 2021 consisted of questions focusing on four categories including IPC program infrastructure, competency-based training, audit and feedback, and identification of high-risk pathogens/serious communicable diseases (HRP/SCD). An IPC score was calculated for each facility by totaling "Yes" responses (which indicate best practices) to 49 main survey questions. Follow-up questions explored the resources needed by the CAHs to implement or further strengthen best practices and mitigate IPC practice gaps. Welch t-test was used to study differences in IPC practice scores between states.

RESULTS: 50 of 259 (19.3%) CAHs participated in the survey with 37 (14.3%) answering all 49 questions. CAHs responding to all questions had a median IPC score of 35. There was no significant difference between IPC practice scores of CAHs in NE and IA. The top three IPC gaps were absence of drug diversion program (77%), lack of audits and feedback for insertion and maintenance of central venous catheters (76%), and missing laboratory risk assessments to identify tests that can be offered safely for patients under investigation for HRP/SCD (76%). Standardized audit tools, educational resources, and staff training materials were cited as much-needed resources.

CONCLUSION: IPC practice gaps exist in CAHs. Various resources are needed for gap mitigation.