Infection Control Resources and Practices in Maryland, 2003

Abstract

ISSUE: In January 2003, the Maryland State Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH) surveyed, for the first time, all acute-care facilities (ACFs) and long-term-care facilities (LTCFs) in the state to determine the current state of infection control resources and practices in Maryland. PROJECT: A self-administered questionnaire was sent to all 48 ACFs and 248 LTCFs. The questions asked about 1) infection control resources, such as staffing, infection control educational preparation, and administrative support and 2) infection control practices, such as outbreak management, isolation capability, and emergency preparedness. The senior infection control professional (ICP) in the facility completed the questionnaire. RESULTS: The response rates were 85% for ACFs and 44% for LTCFs. Data were analyzed separately for each type of facility. The ICPs in acute care reported 1.2 full-time equivalent positions (FTEs) for each 200 ACF beds, while ICPs in LTCFs reported 0.36 FTEs per 200 LTCF beds. The greatest disparity was noted between ACFs and LTCFs in infection control educational preparation of ICPs. Ninety percent of acute-care ICPs reported taking some type of basic infection control course, while only 3% of long-term-care ICPs reported taking a basic infection control course. LESSONS LEARNED: In this survey of ICPs in Maryland, striking differences were noted between ACFs and LTCFs in the ratio of ICP FTEs to beds and in basic infection control educational preparation for ICPs. DHMH will further assess the impact of these findings on infection control effectiveness and quality of patient care in Maryland.