Promoting european infection control / hospital hygiene core competencies: a need for training professionals in Europe

Abstract

S Brusaferro, B Cookson, R Gallagher, P Hartemann, J Holt, S Kalenic, W Popp, G Privitera, C Varela Santos, C Suetens, L Arnoldo, G Cattani, E Fabbro Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche e Biologiche, Universita degli Studi di Udine, Udine, Italy University College London, London, United Kingdom Royal College of Nursing, London, United Kingdom Universite de Lorraine, Nancy, France Staten Serum Institute, Copenhagen, Denmark University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia University Hospital of Essen, Essen, Germany University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy ECDC, Stockholm, Sweden Contact: joe.cattani@libero.it Background The Training Infection Control in Europe project (TRICE, 2010) highlighted significant differences amongst European Countries (EC) regarding the existence of Infection Control / Hospital Hygiene (IC/HH) courses and the need to improve official recognition of ‘‘IC/HH degrees’’ for healthcare professionals. In March 2013, ECDC published a Technical Document with recommended European IC/HH Core Competencies (EIC/HHCC) as proposed by the TRICE project (1). Objective To perform a comparative analysis of EIC/HHCC and documents describing disciplines related to IC/HH, such as Public Health, Epidemiology, Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases and explore possible harmonisation of European standards for mutual recognition of European training courses. The main purpose was to provide information needed to promote the endorsement and the adoption of the EIC/HHCC in training courses and for these to be mutually recognised within EC. These objectives were components of the ECDC funded TRICE-Implementation Strategy project. Results Documents collected were related to: Public Health (ASPHER), Epidemiology of communicable diseases (ECDC) Medical Microbiology (EUPHEM) and Infectious Diseases (UEMS). Alignment with the EIC/HHCC competencies (n.101) was: 57% for ASPHER, 56% for Epidemiology ECDC, 40% for Infectious Diseases, 20% Medical Microbiology UEMS and 64% for EUPHEM. In the Program Management area (n. 24 competencies) poor alignment has been identified for Infectious Diseases 38%, Medical Microbiology (UEMS) 17% and Public Health Microbiology (EUPHEM) 4%. Searches of the www and review of several European courses, thus far suggest that the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) appears to be the standard currently recognized in Europe for mutual recognition of training initiatives, although ECTS is not necessarily required by some Universities and harmonization of methods provides an immediate way forward. Conclusions Almost all documents examined revealed the need better alignment with the TRICE EIC/HHCC. ECTS could be considered as the basis for mutual recognition for IC/HH training initiatives designed according to TRICE EIC/HHCC. European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Core competencies for infection control and hospital hygiene professionals in the European Union. Stockholm: ECDC; 2013. Key message More alignment with EIC/HHCC will be required for relevant training courses. These post-graduate courses should also adopt the Bologna Process recommendations for ECTS. Open access testing for nutrition competences of food service personnel Enni Mertanen