testing and treatment for infections will also be a component of the medical record .”

Another participant observed , “ Intelligent surveillance systems will continuously scan data to highlight abnormal phenomena , such as an increase in the incidence of bloodstream infections , and point to system failures at an early stage . Caregivers will receive recommendations for personalized preventive measures within their patients ’ electronic medical records . IP & C teams will base their work on dashboards with highly automated data pre-processing and respond to real-time alerts . For example , dashboards will highlight daily ‘ hot spots ’ and trigger immediate measures . Contextand time-sensitive mobile educational IP & C content will reach caregivers on the go . Digital coaching systems will observe caregivers during their daily work and provide real-time feedback on adherence issues .”

But , as Sax , et al . ( 2024 ) caution , “ This shift to automation calls for new IP & C skillsets and work routines . Here , the views of survey participants diverged . In one possible future , artificial intelligence will make human epidemiological know-how obsolete , shifting the focus to socio-adaptive expertise and allowing teams to spend their

To be effective , infection prevention and control must be integrated into the complex and multiple interlinking systems within a hospital ’ s management structure . Each of the systems must consider how activity associated with it can be optimized to minimize infection risk to patients .”

time in hospital wards for coaching and problem scouting . In an alternative future , however , IP & C teams will require much more epidemiology and data science skills than today .”

Still , there are advantages to technology , as Sax , et al . ( 2024 ) report : “ Artificial intelligence will also support bench-to-bedside translation . IP & C-relevant scientific evidence will be captured and funneled by machine learning to IP & C teams and even frontline care providers in an actionable format , constantly keeping policies up to date . Research involving automated surveillance of microbiology results will intensify and lead to a better understanding of the importance of patient , caregiver , and environmental microbiota and transmission pathways . Advances in calculation power , machine learning , and rapid genetic typing will enable real-time mapping of colonization and infections . HAI definitions will have to adapt to this automation . Point-of-care testing will replace laboratory-based testing and will guide patient isolation . More detailed digital information on each patient reduces the need for physical proximity with patients , which reduces pathogen transmission .

Sax says he believes additional dialogue around technology ’ s impact on IP & C is warranted .

“ This is a big open question for the field of IP & C , and we need to keep discussing it ,”

The Infection Prevention Exchange

By MD-Medical Data Quality & Safety Advisors , LLC

The IPEX Bundle

• Data

• Process Improvement

• Technology • Artificial Intelligence

Patient & Staff Safety

Patient Satisfaction Scores improved LeapFrog Scores improved

Financial & Operational Efficiencies 50-75 % Reductions in cost of infection

HEALTHCARE-ASSOCIATED INFECTIONS

Contact Tracing

50-75 % Reductions in infections

Inquiries : Medicaldatamanagement @ gmail . com