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2024 Infection Prevention Conference
2024 Infection Prevention Conference
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2024 Infection Prevention Conference
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Schedule

Time Session
7:30 - 8:30 am Registration & Exhibits Open - Collect Bingo Stickers
8:15 am Conference Welcome
8:30 - 9:15 am

Annual Infection Prevention Risk Assessment, Plan, & Review: Tying it Together with an Interactive Live Demonstration

Rebecca Battjes, MPH, CIC, FAPIC
Solenis

Rebecca will demonstrate how to tackle these critical components of an infection prevention program.

9:15 - 10:00 am

IP Role in AS

Emily Perry, PharmD
North Dakota State University

The Role of an Infection Preventionist in Antimicrobial Stewardship will be an informative session highlighting the importance of infection preventionist work to antimicrobial stewardship.  The session will discuss similarities between infection prevention and antimicrobial stewardship.  It will provide examples of how infection preventionists can collaborate with antimicrobial stewardship committees to achieve the common goal of improved patient outcomes.

10:00 - 10:30 am Break & Exhibits Open/Vendor Bingo - Collect Bingo Stickers
10:30 - 11:15 am

Healthcare Drains and HAIs: Challenges and Solutions

Karoline Sperling, MPH

Ecolab

This session will discuss how healthcare drains can be a reservoir for HAIs, describe recent outbreaks, and review current guidance on prevention drain-associated infections.

11:15 am - 12:00 pm

CONCURRENT SESSIONS:

UV-C Technology for Enhanced Disinfection: Show Me the Science

Debra Hagberg, CBIC
UVD Robots

Healthcare environmental surfaces are known to be reservoirs for epidemiological important microorganisms. This session will describe factors associated with inadequate manual cleaning and disinfection and will describe the utilization of UV-C technology for enhanced environmental disinfection leading to reductions in bioburden and increased levels of environmental hygiene.

Understanding the Significance of Blood Culture Contamination:
Impacts and Effective Solutions

Sara Owens, BSN, N, VA-BC
Kurin

Sara Owens will talk about the causes and impacts of blood culture contaminations.  She will detail the relationship between accurate blood culture testing, sepsis diagnosis, antimicrobial stewardship & CLABSI reporting all of which affect patient outcomes and the financial health of departments/facilities.  Sara will conclude the session with a discussion on solutions to reduce blood culture contaminations and how leadership contributes to long term and sustainable results. 

Dietary in the Game of Infection Prevention

Debbie Hurst, RN, CHESP, CIC

Hands-On Infection Control Consulting Services

This presentation focuses on the infection prevention and control aspects of the dietary program in the healthcare setting including challenges faced and best practices related to infection control.

Escape Rooms
(must sign up at registration table to participate)

12:00 - 1:00 pm

Lunch - Provided
Exhibits Open/Vendor Bingo - Collect Bingo Stickers

1:00 - 1:45 pm

Candida auris - An Enigmatic Fungal Pathogen of
Global Concern

Rebecca Battjes, MPH, CIC, FAPIC

Solenis

C. auris is an emerging fungus that presents a serious global health threat.  This presentation discusses the history of the fungus, the reservoir, mode of transmission, and the susceptible hosts.  Recent outbreaks are reviewed.  Recommendations and actions to prevent and control spread will also be discussed.

1:45 - 2:30 pm

Laundry - Infection Contral a Wash?

Debbie Hurst, RN, CHESP, CIC

Hands-On Infection Control Consulting Services

This interactive session will cover healthcare laundry infection control standards and practices. Together, we will identify common concerns and opportunities for improvement and discuss ways for promoting improvement through adaptation of standards, recommendations and best practices.

2:30 - 3:00 pm

Break & Exhibits Open/Vendor Bingo - Collect Bingo Stickers

3:00 - 3:45 pm

CONCURRENT SESSIONS:

Implementing Ambulatory Antimicrobial Stewardship in Accordance to Joint Commission Requirements

Maxx Enzmann, PharmD
Sanford Health

This session will review Joint Commission requirements for ambulatory antimicrobial stewardship as well as identify strategies to fulfill the requirements and advance antimicrobial stewardship programs. Examples and lessons learned will be provided from the program at Sanford Health Fargo.

Water Management in Dialysis

Matthew Arduino, MS, DrPH, FSHEA, M(ASCP)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The management of hemodialysis fluids (water and dialysate) is important for the safety of hemodialysis patients.  Microbial contamination of these fluids incidences of bacteremia or pyrogenic reactions in patients during treatment and chemical contamination can lead to a number of adverse events including death.  This presentation will focus on the management of the dialysis water treatment systems and preparation of the dialysate bath and the quality management systems that need to be in place to provide for the safe care of patients and to prevent patient harm from the dialysate bath and exposure to water.

Emerging Diseases: Global Health is our Health

Michelle Dethloff, MPH

ND Department of Health & Human Services

Escape Rooms
(must sign up at registration table to participate)

3:45 - 4:30 pm

Those Carts, Caddies, and Wheels - Germs, Oh My!!

Debbie Hurst, RN, CHESP, CIC
Hands-On Infection Control Consulting Services

Environmental cleaning in healthcare is practiced by environmental services as well as across several other disciplines including nursing and therapy.  This session looks at the healthcare risk related to environmental soilage and contamination and its removal, and standard practice recommendations along with best practices for the healthcare environmental cleaning that reduces those risk .

4:30 pm

Conference Wrap Up

Time Session
7:30 - 8:15 am Registration & Exhibits Open - Collect Bingo Stickers
8:15 - 9:00 am

Microbiology for IPs 101

Rebecca Battjes, MPH, CIC, FAPIC
Solenis

A review of basic microbiology with an emphasis on organism structure and how that structure leads to pathogenicity.  We review key organisms and their relevance to healthcare.

9:00 - 10:00 am

Carbapenemase-Producing Organisms: Prevention and Response in Healthcare Settings

Samuel Cincotta, MPH, PharmD
Centers for Disease Control

Novel & Targeted Multidrug-Resistant Organisms: Background and epidemiology, strategies to prevent and contain, and public health collaboration.

10:00 - 10:30 am Break & Exhibits Open/Vendor Bingo - Collect Bingo Stickers
10:30 - 11:15 am

CONCURRENT SESSIONS:

AMMI Water Standards for Reprocessing

Matthew Arduino, MS, DrPH, FSHEA, M(ASCP)
Centers for Disease Control

Water used to rinse medical devices has been associated with both infections and pseudo-infections. AAMI first published a technical information report in AAIM TIR 34:2007 that made recommendations for the quality water that should be used for device reprocessing.  In 2023 AAMI published ST 108 Water for the processing of medical devices (2023) which defines the types of water needed to for high-level disinfection and steam sterilization.  In addition, AAMI ST 91: 2021 Flexible and semi-rigid endoscope processing in health care facilities also discusses water quality in the reprocessing process and it refers back to AAM TIR 34. 

Environmental Cleaning and Disinfection in Dialysis

Rebecca Battjes, MPH, CIC, FAPIC

Solenis

This presentation begins with an overview of disinfect chemistry selection.  The second half focuses specifically on environmental cleaning & disinfection considerations for high-touch, highly interactive rehabilitation and dialysis settings.

EBP LTC

Debbie Hurst, RN, CHESP, CIC
Hands-On Infection Control Consulting Services

Enhanced Barrier Precautions were first introduced to LTC in 2019.  Currently there are CDC updates being finalized related to EBP.  This session will look at what EBP include, any updates that are possibly coming and how to promote the adoption of the precautions in LTC facilities.

Escape Rooms
(must sign up at registration table to participate)

11:15 - 11:45 am

What's Wrong with This?

Debbie Hurst, RN, CHESP, CIC

Hands-On Infection Control Consulting Services

This interactive session involves “looking through the eyes of the trained Infection Preventionist” (IP) and identifying what is wrong with the examples and images reviewed related to infection prevention and control across the continuum of care.

11:45 am - 12:45 pm

Lunch & Exhibits Open/Vendor Bingo - Collect Bingo Stickers

12:45 - 1:30 pm

CONCURRENT SESSIONS:

Understanding Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamase Producing Organisms (ESBLs)

Tony Maanum, PharmD
Essentia Health Fargo

This session will be an overview of extended spectrum beta-lactamase producing organisms. There are many unique considerations and treatment choices that need to be considered when looking at ESBL organisms so it very important to develop an understanding on these topics to successfully treat patients. We will go over the scenarios in which ESBL organisms are more likely to present, the pathophysiology of how these enzymes work, the types of pathogens involved, how to identify an ESBL organism, and finally of the considerations about the treatment of ESBL organisms. This will cover guideline directed treatment, controversies in some of the treatment, and stewardship considerations when choosing antibiotics. 

Protecting the Patient Lifeline: Dialysis Access and Infection Risks

Claire Taylor-Schiller, RN
Midwest Kidney Network

With frequent access to the bloodstream, it is well established that dialysis patients are at a higher risk of infection. In this session, participants will identify the various types of dialysis accesses and learn about the risks of infection associated with each, as well as best practices in mitigating dialysis access infection risk.

Safety Scavenger Hunt! An IPs Guide to Environmental Rounding in Ambulatory Care

Rebecca Battjes, MPH, CIC, FAPIC

Solenis

Open to cabinets, closets, and drawers!  Look up, look down, and everywhere in between.  Describe the current state of the ambulatory infection preventionist.  Review common (and not-so-common) findings during ambulatory environment of care rounds.  Discuss challenges unique to ambulatory settings. 

Escape Rooms
(must sign up at registration table to participate)

1:30 - 2:00 pm

Immunizations

Jennifer Galbraith, BS
ND Department of Health

During this session participants will learn about the current immunization recommendations in the United States and how immunizations play a role in infection control.

2:00 - 2:30 pm

Break & Exhibits Open/Vendor Bingo - Collect Bingo Stickers

2:30 - 3:15 pm

CONCURRENT SESSIONS:

Up to Code: Conditions for Coverage and the ESRD Network

Claire Taylor-Schiller, RN
Midwest Kidney Network

In all the pages of the ESRD conditions of coverage, the tags related to infection prevention continue to be the most commonly cited deficiencies in dialysis facilities. This session will review common areas of citation, define the role of the ESRD Network in quality improvement, and inform the participants of best practices in infection prevention in the dialysis facility, not just to satisfy the certification survey, but for improved outcomes for ESRD patients.

Operating Room Turnover Cleaning & Disinfection Through the Eyes
of an IP

Rebecca Battjes, MPH, CIC, FAPIC

Solenis

The operating room (OR) is an intimidating space for IPs of all experience levels.  This session details the real-life challenges of turning over an OR in between cases.  IPs will learn key cleaning & disinfection concepts and opportunities to improve this critical process.   

Wound Care in LTC

Debbie Hurst, RN, CHESP, CIC
Hands-On Infection Control Consulting Services

This interactive session will look at the wound care program infection control components in LTC. Included will be discussion of common infection control opportunities for improvement (OFIs) in this type of program and review of current infection control related recommendations and best practices.

Escape Rooms
(must sign up at registration table to participate)

3:15 - 4:00 pm

CONCURRENT SESSIONS:

The Dog Days of ID: Embracing the Bark & Removing the Bite of Diagnostic Stewardship

Amanda Presser, PharmD
Sanford Health

This session will introduce diagnostic stewardship, explain multi-disciplinary roles, and discuss specific disease states and potential stewardship opportunities. Rapid diagnostic tests for bacteremia, respiratory infections, and meningitis/encephalitis will also be covered. 

Disinfection/Sterilization Immediate Use Eye Instruments

Debbie Hust, RN, CHESP, CIC

Hands-On Infection Control Consulting Services

This interactive session covers basics of disinfection and sterilization processes, along with immediate use steam sterilization (IUSS). Specific discussion points for eye instrument reprocessing will also be presented.

A Dog Walks into a Hospital: Infection Prevention and Control Best Practices for Animal Visitations

Andrew Hennenfent, DVM, MPH, DACVPM
Iowa Department of Health and Human Services

The prevalence of animals in healthcare settings is becoming more frequent in patient care areas such as hospitals, physician offices, rehabilitation centers, and long-term care facilities. When animals are present in healthcare settings, there is the potential for germs to spread between animals and people, demonstrating the need to have appropriate protocols and policies in place to protect patients, residents, and staff from the potential risk of infection.

Escape Rooms
(must sign up at registration table to participate)

4:00 - 4:30 pm

Water Management - How's it Flowing?

Christine Yount, MPH

Centers for Disease Control

Outbreaks due to water exposure have occurred in healthcare settings, these include CLABSIs, SSIs, BSIs, Valve infections, etc. These infections are due to both opportunistic pathogens of premise plumbing (eg., Legionella pneumophilla, Nontuberculous mycobacteria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Burkholderia cepacia complex, Stenotrophomonas maltophila, etc) and MDRO sanitary plumbing.  Water management for healthcare facilities will be discussed in detail and facilities will be reminded that water management is no longer about Legionella only.

4:30 pm

Closing Comments
Vendor Bingo Game
Door Prizes

UND Conference, Camp & Event Services
O'Kelly Hall Room 300
221 Centennial Drive Stop 9021
Grand Forks, ND 58202
P 701.777.4888
und.conferences@UND.edu

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Conferences, Camps & Events

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221 Centennial Dr Stop 9021
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