A job analysis of knowledge and tasks for the certification in infection control and epidemiology examination.

The Certification Board in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. completed a 2020 Job Analysis to validate the contents of the Certification in Infection Control and Epidemiology (CIC) exam accurately reflects the work of the infection preventionist (IP). The Job Analysis provided evidence that knowledge and tasks were well to very well covered on the survey.

Infection prevention disaster preparedness planning for long-term care facilities.

Background: Long-term care facilities (LTCFs) are defined as residential institutions that provide care to people who are unable to live independently. Planning for infection prevention in disaster situations is essential for LTCFs because of the increased risk inherent in their patient population. Experiences with past disasters, such as pandemic influenza and Hurricane Katrina, have demonstrated where LTCFs are lacking in preparedness and opportunities for improvement.

Personal protective equipment use and allocation in home health during disasters.

Background: Home health preparedness for disasters is imperative, including the need to identify essential resources to protect home health professionals from exposure during an event. Access to personal protective equipment (PPE) is expected to be limited during a disaster, and PPE distribution and allocation needs to be prearranged to minimize infection transmission risk. This article outlines the appropriate use and allocation of PPE for home health agencies as part of disaster planning.