Latest / Culture Positive: An Infection Prevention Podcast / Happy IP Week!
Transcript
- Ally: Welcome to Culture Positive, an infection prevention podcast where healthcare, public health, and real life meet. I'm Allie, and by day I work in infection prevention at an academic hospital, bringing my background in epidemiology and public health into everyday practice. Each week, We'll dive into healthcare stories, public health conversations, workplace realities, and the human side of this work. This is a space for curiosity, honesty, and hopefully some inspiration. I'm glad you're here. Happy International Infection Prevention Week. This year, APIC, the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, is highlighting the history of infection prevention with its theme, Generations of Infection Prevention. from the plague to Florence Nightingale and all the way to present day. The theme explores how infection prevention principles have been woven throughout history. I actually have an episode on both of these topics. It's a bird, no? It's the plague and mother of infection prevention. Not to plug my own podcast, but hopefully if you're listening, you don't mind. You know I love history, so I'm very into this year's theme. You should definitely check out APIC's website. Each day of the week focuses on different time period. And how infection prevention has evolved over the centuries. While I think this is a great theme, I also want to focus on the current generation of infection preventionists, those who are interested in joining the field, and anyone curious about the work that we do. So I thought it would be fun to gather some perspectives from people currently working in infection prevention. And ask them to share something they didn't necessarily expect when they first entered the field. You know, the things you don't find in the job description. Whether you are already an infection preventionist, considering a career in the field, or just curious about the work that we do, I hope this gives you a little more insight into the world of infection prevention. Happy IP week to everyone doing this work today and to the next generation of infection preventionists who will carry it forward. Let's get into it. As I mentioned, I reached out to some fellow infection preventionists to get their insight on the work that we do. These IPs have a range of experience, covering everything from high acuity ICUs at academic hospitals to oncology units, pediatric care, and outpatient services. It's a great representation of just how many different areas infection preventionists can work in, and the variety of responsibilities that come with the job. One of my former colleagues said it best. You need to be a jack of all trades and a master of some. Honestly, that sums up infection prevention pretty well. Your responsibilities can extend far beyond tracking infections and monitoring hand hygiene. You might find yourself working on water management, HVAC safety, or even the logistics of hospital construction. Luckily, you'll have partners throughout your facility who specialize in these areas. But that brings us to an important question. Why does infection prevention need to be involved in the first place? Let's start with water management. Have you ever stopped to think about what might be living in the pipes in your own home and how it could potentially make its way through something as simple as a shower? Sorry if you hadn't thought about that before, and now I might have given you a little anxiety. But in a hospital, this is something we really do need to consider. Many of our patients are seriously ill or immunocompromised. And protecting them means looking at potential sources of infection that we might not normally think twice about. Microorganisms can grow in building water systems, particularly when water sits stagnant or when conditions allow organisms to thrive in plumbing systems and biofilms. Some organisms, one that comes top of mind, Legionella, And certain non-tuberculosis mycobacteria can pose a risk to vulnerable patients. For patients who are immunocompromised or have certain invasive devices, exposure to these organisms can have a serious consequence. That's why healthcare facilities have water management programs designed to identify and reduce these risks. And depending on the situation, additional precautions may be needed, such as using sterile water for specific clinical applications. Next up, HVAC systems. Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning might not sound like the most exciting part of infection prevention, but airflow can make a huge difference in healthcare settings. Think about areas like operating rooms, protective environments for certain immunocompromised patients, and airborne infection isolation rooms. These spaces rely on specific ventilation and pressure requirements to help reduce infection risk. Infection preventionists work with facility teams and other experts to make sure the environment supports the need of the patients and staff. Once again, it's about understanding how the physical environment can influence infection transmission. And then there's construction. Personally, this was one area of the job I really wasn't anticipating. And I know I'm not alone in that. Of course, I knew the healthcare environment was important for patient safety. But I hadn't fully considered how much infection prevention would be involved in construction and renovation projects. That's where ICRA or infection control risk assessment comes into play. Construction can generate dust and disrupt building materials, potentially releasing fungal spores and other contaminants into the surrounding environment. For vulnerable patients, that can create a serious risk. Infection preventionists work with facilities, construction teams, and other stakeholders to assess those risks and put appropriate precautions in place before and during a project. So, yes, sometimes your day might involve reviewing infection data, and other times you might be discussing barriers, how to contain dust, or construction plans. As you can see, infection prevention involves a lot of collaboration. You're working with facilities, engineering, environmental services, nursing, physicians, construction teams, and plenty of other departments. Building strong relationships and communicating clearly are essential. You don't need to know everything yourself, and you shouldn't be expected to. Ask questions, seek out the experts, and don't be afraid to ask for help. Speaking of seeking out experts, sometimes as an infection preventionist, you're the expert people are coming to for answers. And sometimes that means hospital leadership is looking to you for recommendations. A fellow IP shared their feelings on such an important topic that I know a lot of us in infection prevention can feel. Imposter syndrome. This fellow IP was kind enough to share her personal thoughts and experiences, and I really appreciate their willingness to be open about something that can be difficult to talk about. I hope their words resonate with you too and remind you that you are not alone. As an IP, you can work pretty closely with hospital leadership, and there are plenty of times when they're looking to you for answers. Sitting in a meeting with a VP or COO and being asked, what are your recommendations? can feel overwhelming and honestly a little scary. There have been so many times when I felt over my head or second guessed what I was saying. I'm over a year into my role, and I still have moments when I question whether I'm qualified to be there. It can be difficult to remind yourself that you deserve a seat at the table, especially when you're surrounded by people with years of experience and expertise in their own areas. I think I expected that at some point I would reach a place where I felt completely confident in my recommendations. But the reality is there will always be situations that challenge you. And that's part of growing into the role. I know I have been there, and I'm sure myself and my colleagues are not alone in this. Being an expert doesn't mean you have to know everything. We are human after all. It means knowing how to assess a situation, find the evidence, ask the right questions, and recognize when you need to bring someone else's expertise. If you're a newer IP and you've ever walked out of a meeting, replaying everything you said and wondering if you got it right, just know that you're not alone. You continue to learn, you continue to grow, and you deserve to be there. But it's not all imposter syndrome and intimidating meetings. An IP shares an unexpected positive about the job. one thing that surprised me was how much more patient contact I would have. In my previous public health roles, I never really interacted directly with patients. Most of my interactions were with other infection preventionists or physicians. So getting to see patients firsthand and witness the direct impact of the work we're doing has been a really nice change. It's a good reminder of why our work matters and who we're ultimately trying to protect. Plus, getting to see a smiley baby in the middle of the workday, that's always a bonus and can turn any ordinary day into a pretty great one. And to build on that myself, I didn't expect to be able to follow a patient's journey throughout their hospital stay. I'm lucky enough to cover an area where I can see patients waiting for a transplant, receiving their transplant, and eventually recovering and going home. Being able to witness that journey is incredibly rewarding. You see the impact not only on the patients themselves, but also on the loved ones who have been right there beside them through it all. It's given me a much deeper appreciation for the gift of life and the opportunity to witness people get a second chance. Another unexpected positive for me has been getting a front row seat to the care patients receive from nursing and physician teams, along with so many other healthcare professionals, including dietary, physical therapy, and countless others. I am genuinely in awe of the number of people who show up every day to care for and support patients they have never met. They're strangers. But when it comes to healthcare, that doesn't matter. you get to see people from so many different backgrounds and specialties come together, each bringing their own knowledge and skills to make sure a patient receives the best possible care. They may each have a different role, but they're all working towards the same goal. That's such a beautiful thing to witness. As infection preventionists, we spend so much of our time looking for risks, identifying problems, and implementing best practices to mitigate harm. That's an important part of our job, of course, but being able to step back and see all the things that are going right and all the people working so hard to make a difference is also a really special part of this role. For our Huddle Corner, a section for some takeaways before signing off, I first want to thank all of the infection preventionists who provided their thoughts, reflections, and feelings on the work they do. All of them have my utmost respect and gratitude for the way you show up for your colleagues and patients every day. And to all the IPs listening, happy infection prevention week! So much of our work happens behind the scenes, and sometimes it can feel like it goes unnoticed. But please know I see you, I appreciate you, and I'll be celebrating you this week and in the weeks to come. The work that you do matters. If you are not an IP, but want to show some appreciation for the work that infection preventionists do. Not to speak for all IPs, but it would mean a lot if you would get your flu shot in honor of us for IP Week. Not only does it protect you, but it also helps protect the people around you, including those who may be more vulnerable to serious illnesses. Thank you for listening to Culture Positive. If you have any questions or ideas for an episode, please send me an email at CulturePositive Pod at gmail.com. You can also Thank you for listening to Culture Positive. If you have any questi Nope. find me on Instagram at CulturePositive Pod. Please like, share, and review the podcast wherever you listen. References for the episode can be found in the notes. Infection prevention is about more than policies and protocols. It's about people. Until next time, stay curious, stay compassionate, and keep building a culture that's truly positive.