Infection prevention is likely still top of mind emerging from the pandemic. But even though facility leaders know what works to stop the spread of infections doesn’t mean that it’s getting done. That’s why a group of five medical societies have published recommendations on what they say can help prevent infections in acute care settings.

The recommendations address how teams communicate, facility policies, and measures to engage staff.

“There is no best way to implement a practice, but implementation need not be overly complex,” said Joshua Schaffzin, MD, a pediatric infectious disease physician and a senior author of Implementing Strategies to Prevent Infections in Acute Care Settings.

The infection prevention guidelines are in a new chapter that updates the book, which can inform infection control practices in long-term care.

“This new section is a compilation of a number of options and practical tools you can use to find your best way to implement successfully. It’s a way to take the Compendium from paper to bedside to improve practices for patient safety,” Schaffzin said in a statement.

In the new chapter, Schaffzin hoped to bridge the “knowing-doing” gap that can occur when practices don’t adhere to evidence-based practices that can help prevent infections. In other words, it aims to look at practical ways to help organizations put into play strategies to prevent illness.

The infection prevention guidelines incorporate what the authors call 4E strategies to bring in positive changes. They must engage partners, educate partners, execute changes into the standard processes, and evaluate to see if the change worked, the book stated.

“Spending time listening and exploring your context, including local factors such as operational support, informatics resources, familiarity and experience, willingness to change, and safety, is of tremendous value and will guide you to success,” Schaffzin said. “People are rarely eager to change. It’s OK to be discouraged, but don’t give up.”

The book was initially published in 2008 and is sponsored by the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology (SHEA). SHEA teamed up with the Infectious Diseases Society of America, the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, the American Hospital Association, and The Joint Commission, on the publication.

The updates include strategies to prevent infection, tips to enact the strategies, and ways to measure performance.