Competency Details

ECDC Infection control and hospital hygiene

Core competencies for infection control and hospital hygiene professionals in the European Union.

https://ecdc.europa.eu/sites/portal/files/media/en/publications/Publications/infection-control-core-competencies.pdf

Name	Linked courses
Area 1. Programme management Type: Domain	0
1.1 Elaborating and advocating an infection control programme Type: Domain	0
1.1.1 Advocate the importance of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) as a crucial element of patient safety and highlight their potential human, economic and reputational burden to the decision-makers of the healthcare organisation Type: Knowlege	0
1.1.2 Prepare and present an outline of an infection control programme focusing on key elements: mission statement, description of objectives and indicators, presentation of action plan, including outcomes, success measures, rules for the functioning of the infection control committee, operating manual, links to other patient safety and healthcare organisation programmes Type: Knowlege	0
1.1.3 Identify and communicate the requirements of an infection control programme to relevant internal and external stakeholders (including patient advocates) and develop strategies for involving them in the infection control programme Type: Knowlege	0
1.1.4 Establish priorities for infection control according to the characteristics of an individual healthcare organisation, including the safety of healthcare workers internal transfer of information and public disclosure of information, respecting ethical standards for patient protection Type: Knowlege	0
1.1.5 Take a lead role as appropriate for the healthcare organisation to formulate, propose and liaise with other key players to produce appropriate indicators in relation to the control of healthcare-associated infections, taking into account the official policy on internal transfer of information and public health disclosure of information Type: Knowlege	0
1.1.6 Foster and promote team work in infection control Type: Knowlege	2
1.1.7 Lead the team to ensure that it has shared vision and works cohesively Type: Knowlege	1
1.2 Management of an infection control programme, work plan and projects Type: Domain	0
1.2.01 Manage an infection control programme or other programmes on adverse events (from conception to impact evaluation, including budgeting) according to EU, national or local regulations and healthcare organisation policies Type: Knowlege	0
1.2.02 Play a key role in formulating an organisational structure for controlling HAIs and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the healthcare organisation – while interacting with others as appropriate Type: Knowlege	1
1.2.03 Review, assess, provide and recommend appropriate resources for infection control in the healthcare organisation: scientific and technical expertise, facilities for infection control, information systems, continuing education, use of link professionals, allocated budget Type: Knowlege	0
1.2.04 Be able to manage system changes related to infection control issues based on knowledge of the health organisation Type: Knowlege	0
1.2.05 Be able to manage individual and organisational changes utilising knowledge of the behavioural sciences Type: Knowlege	1
1.2.06 Identify and negotiate financial resources with cost–benefit analyses of infection control activities Type: Knowlege	0
1.2.07 Organise and support the meetings of an infection control committee and technical working groups Type: Knowlege	0
1.2.08 Organise and lead regular reviews of policies/procedures in collaboration with multidisciplinary experts Type: Knowlege	0
1.2.09 Support ways to improve team work: provide tools for the sharing of responsibilities, the exchange of information, and the planning of tasks Type: Knowlege	1
1.2.10 Provide specialist expertise related to infection control on healthcare organisation policies Type: Knowlege	0
1.2.11 Formulate and facilitate a suitable strategy for internal communications on infection control with key stakeholders Type: Knowlege	0
1.2.12 Disseminate information regarding legislation, regulations and official recommendations for infection control Type: Knowlege	0
1.2.13 Inform healthcare workers (HCWs) about new threats: epidemics, new agents, etc. Type: Knowlege	0
1.2.14 Communicate with, and provide support to, the healthcare organisation’s contractors and service providers (construction, renovation, maintenance, housekeeping, laundry, etc.) Type: Knowlege	0
1.2.15 Appropriately report infection control findings to the infection control committee, the healthcare organisation’s management, clinical departments, units and involved professionals Type: Knowlege	0
1.2.16 Improve communication between different levels of care (primary, hospital, long term) Type: Knowlege	1
1.2.17 Promote collaborative partnerships between professionals Type: Knowlege	2
1.2.18 Contribute appropriately to external communications on infection control, including communications with public health authorities as and when required Type: Knowlege	0
1.2.19 Communicate with the media if agreed locally Type: Knowlege	0
1.2.20 Review and evaluate infection control programmes regularly, according to updated legislation, recommendations and latest feedback (audits, surveillance results, etc.) Type: Knowlege	0
Area 2. Quality improvement Type: Domain	0
2.1 Contributing to quality management Type: Domain	0
2.1.1 Contribute to the ongoing accreditation, certification, evaluation and normalisation processes within the healthcare organisation Type: Knowlege	0
2.1.2 Contribute to the integration of infection control activities within the healthcare organisation’s quality promotion and patient safety programmes Type: Knowlege	0
2.1.3 Prepare, conduct and coordinate audits of professional practices related to infection control in clinical areas Type: Knowlege	0
2.1.4 Lead (where appropriate) and support other stakeholders, e.g. HCWs, consumers and consumer groups to establish and evaluate the infection control aspects of quality and patient safety programmes Type: Knowlege	0
2.2 Contributing to risk management Type: Domain	0
2.2.1 Advocate and enable integration of risk management concepts (such as rapid reporting of adverse events or errors, without sanctions) and methods (such as systemic analysis, e.g. root causes of adverse events) in infection control activities within the healthcare organisation Type: Knowlege	0
2.2.2 Contribute – if locally appropriate – to the ongoing risk management programme of the healthcare organisation by coordinating infection control activities with other safety programmes such as for transfusion, administration of drugs, or use of medical devices (coordinated communication, training, data collection or notification, etc.) Type: Knowlege	0
2.3 Performing audits of professional practices and evaluating performance Type: Domain	1
2.3.1 Take into account the different clinical and cultural considerations and conditions that determine the various types of evaluations and audits Type: Knowlege	0
2.3.2 Establish a programme of audits and investigations Type: Knowlege	0
2.3.3 Prepare protocols for the evaluation of performance Type: Knowlege	0
2.3.4 Train investigators so they can assess targeted practices, structures or processes Type: Knowlege	0
2.3.5 Apply appropriate epidemiological methods during data collection to ensure reliability and reproducibility Type: Knowlege	0
2.3.6 Analyse data and interpret results related to the evaluation and report back to relevant staff in appropriate language Type: Knowlege	0
2.3.7 Coordinate, and report on, the progress of the audits programme and associated learning in the targeted units or departments Type: Knowlege	0
2.3.8 Disseminate and communicate constructively the results of audits and the lessons learnt to the HCWs, administration and other professionals involved Type: Knowlege	0
2.3.9 Work with the healthcare organisation to formulate corrective actions and enable staff to carry out these actions to ensure that evaluation results are acted upon Type: Knowlege	0
2.4 Infection control training of employees Type: Domain	0

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ECDC Infection control and hospital hygiene

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