infection prevention
By Sue Barnes, RN, CIC, FAPIC
The Role of the Infection Preventionist
in Product Purchasing
As
healthcare costs continue to rise, the process of the
selection of clinical products must be objective and
scientific. Because there are so many elements involved during
this process, coordination by the value analysis committee is
critical to ensuring both patient safety and cost containment.
In the role as a core member of this committee, the infection
preventionist (IP) serves a number of functions, including: 1,2
Bringing formal proposals for the introduction
of infection prevention products/technology incorpo-
rating evidence of efficacy and estimated return on
investment (ROI)
Providing consultation regarding the safety and
efficacy of less expensive products supporting prevention
of HAI, that may be proposed by the committee as a
cost saving measure;
Providing important guidance to ensure that any
product or technology introduced can be effectively
cleaned and disinfected if used on or around patients,
and to ensure that the recommended products for
cleaning/disinfecting are compatible with those in use
at the facility;
Supporting the committee’s assurance of a vendor’s
capacity to provide adequate staff training in real time so
that the product/technology will be used appropriately
and result in optimal outcomes;
Ensuring that any infection prevention product
meets all evidence-based clinical guidelines and recom-
mendations from regulatory and clinical organizations
including the CDC
Related to and supporting these functions are the addi-
tional important roles played by effective IPs, of early adopter
and principle investigator for trials of innovative products
supporting prevention of healthcare associated infection
(HAI). 3,4 A classic example of the IP role as early adopter
has been demonstrated with the range of chlorhexidine
gluconate (CHG) containing products. It was far in advance of
randomized clinical trials proving efficacy of CHG in reducing
infection risk, that IP departments began championing CHG
based products starting with healthcare hand soap in the
1970s. 5 It subsequently became a community standard
and then decades later, the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC) finally added it as a recommended
practice in 2002. 5 Similar time gaps can be seen between
implementation of many other CHG containing products and
the publication of randomized controlled trials and clinical
guideline integration for infection prevention, including
vascular access skin prep, impregnated central venous
www.healthcarehygienemagazine.com • february 2020
From simple before and after studies, to
large double blind randomized controlled
studies, IPs have participated in and led
trials of innovative products designed to
reduce HAI risk, building the evidence
base for efficacy.
catheters, impregnated surgical and vascular dressings. 5 In
the absence of patient risk, many IPs champion products
based on early evidence of efficacy in order to optimize
patient safety. It is a certainty that many patient lives have
been saved as a result of this philosophy of early adoption.
The role of principle investigator and/or participant in
studies of innovative products is equally important in the
quest for zero preventable HAI. From simple before and
after studies, to large double blind randomized controlled
studies, IPs have participated in and led trials of innovative
products designed to reduce HAI risk, building the evidence
base for efficacy. This typically initially leads, often only after
many years. to establishing a community standard, and then
much later to inclusion in clinical guideline(s). 6
IP and Industry Collaboration
From the frontlines of healthcare in hospitals and
clinics to the corporate offices of the Association for
Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC),
IPs work collaboratively with industry partners to introduce
innovative products and technology designed to optimize
patient safety by reducing HAI risk. 7 At the corporate level,
the APIC Strategic Partner Program is a formal, mutually
beneficial partnership between APIC and industry partners
united in the common goal of reducing the risk of infection.
The industry partners play an important role in supporting
many of the programs and services that makes the APIC
membership so valuable. More recently, Industry Perspectives
has been introduced by APIC, an online resource for IPs and
healthcare workers to stay up-to-date on products, services,
research, and innovation relevant to the field of infection
prevention and control.
An important opportunity for IPs at all levels to learn about
new infection prevention products, and develop relationships
with industry partners, occurs annually during conferences
including the annual meetings of APIC and the Society
for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA). When
visiting the vendor exhibit hall during these conferences,
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