BACKGROUND: The role of public health epidemiologists in providing infection prevention and control recommendations and guidance in healthcare settings continues to expand. In addition, due to the ever growing threat of healthcare associated infections and emerging diseases infection prevention staff at healthcare facilities are interfacing with public health to a greater degree. Due to this growing collaboration, The Texas Department of State Health Services, HSR 2/3 initiated a program to provide enhanced and joint infection prevention training leading to certification in infection control (CIC) to public health epidemiologists and infection preventionists in the North Central Texas region.
METHODS: Twenty epidemiologists and twenty infection preventionists were recruited to participate in a two day, in-person training session and monthly conference calls for 12 months covering various topics in infection control. Participants represented a balance of public health epidemiologists and infection preventionist to provide varied viewpoint in approaching infection prevention issues. Participants who attended the in-person training session and meet all requirements as stated by the Certification Board in Infection Control (CBIC) were eligible to receive a voucher to take the CIC examination.
RESULTS: Of forty individuals who attended the training sessions, thirty-nine took the CIC exam (16 epidemiologists and 23 infection preventionists). Thirty-one (73%) individuals passed the exam leading to certification: 75% of epidemiologists and 83% of infection preventionists. This program represents the first collaborative learning in the United States leading to CIC of both public health and healthcare staff.
CONCLUSIONS: Infection control training in a mix learning environment of both public health epidemiologists and infection preventionists allowed for open discussion and enhanced learning. A high percentage of program participants earned credentials for certification in infection control, the standard for demonstrating competency in the practice of infection control and healthcare epidemiology.