Using infection prevention data for improvement: the infection prevention control team as a clinical support micro-system

Abstract

Process and outcome data are essential to evaluate the effectiveness of infection prevention and control teams (IPCT). Data are used for: the identification of possible outbreaks, surveillance of healthcare associated infections, monitoring the epidemiology of alert organisms, monitoring IPC practices, creating arguments for the need to change practices, and demonstrating whether the changes in practices have been effective in improving outcomes. Today the IPCT can be data rich without being intelligence rich. It is critical that IPCT are able to generate targets for improving patient safety. Also the IPCT must be able to easily read, interpret and discuss data so that the effects of change can be measured, communicated and understood. This paper details a 10-point plan to make straightforward the use of data in creating arguments for, and the measuring of, system change to drive improvements and reduce infection outcomes.