April 2024 Newsletter
President's Report
Hello, APIC Chicago members! I hope you enjoy our first edition of the APIC
Chicago Quarterly Newsletter. The new board of directors is working hard to
brainstorm ideas on how to provide meaningful information that can impact
the work of infection preventionists in our organization. With the loss of our
501(c)(3) status, we unfortunately cannot provide the types of education we
historically have brought to you, but with the help of our wonderful vendors,
we are planning several webinars in the coming months to keep you up-todate
on important infection prevention and control topics. We are still
anxiously waiting to hear from the IRS regarding the re-instatement of our
tax status and are hopeful that we will hear something soon. In the
meantime, please reach out to me, or any of our board members if you have
comments, questions or suggestions. As we enter into spring and summer, I
hope you all find time to rest, relax and recharge!
Best,
Lisa
Welcome New Members
Welcome to our new members! We currently have 280 active members and
are taking a proactive role to encourage non members to join and expiring
members to renew membership. In the last few months, we have had several
new members join APIC Chicago! Remember that our dues are currently $0,
so join us!
Calendar of Events
April 25th @ 12pm
Webinar: Aligning with
Water Management
Standards: ANSI/ASHRAE
Standard 514 & ST108—
Presented by Phigenics
May 16th @ 12pm
APIC Chicago BOD Meeting
June 3-5th
APIC 2024 Annual
Conference
San Antonio, Texas
EDUCATION UPDATE
Thank you to those of you that completed our APIC Chicago annual
education needs assessment! Your education committee is sifting through
the responses and beginning to plan future events. For those of you that
expressed interest in joining our committee, we will be reaching out soon and
inviting you to our next Education Committee meeting.
REGULATORY/LEGISLATVIE NEWS
Effective July 1, 2024, The Joint Commission approved new and revised requirements for the “Infection Prevention and Control” (IC) chapter for critical access hospitals and hospitals. One of the biggest changes to the standards is the addition of competency-based training and education of hospital staff on infection prevention and control policies and procedures and their application to the standards. The Joint Commission states competency “is the staff’s ability to demonstrate the skills and tasks specific to their roles and responsibilities”. You may need to work with your Education or Professional Development department to ensure your organization has a process in place to assess infection control related competencies, which may include donning/doffing PPE, hand hygiene, and high-level disinfection. In addition, the new IC standards specifically call out the need to perform education and training to assess competency of staff who will implement protocols for high consequence infectious diseases or special pathogens (Standard IC.07.01.01 EP2). Click here to view a reference guide for the new Joint Commission Infection Control Standards.
Illinois Public Act 103-0057
On Janary 1, 2024, Illinois Public Act 103-0057 was updated, which is part of the Hospital Licensing Act. The update includes changing the age in which hospitals must identify patients for influenza vaccination. Here’s the new language:
“Every hospital shall adopt an influenza and pneumococcal immunization policy that includes, but need not be limited to the following:
1. Procedures for identifying patients age 50 65 or older for influenza immunization and 65 or older for pneumococcal immunization and, at the discretion of the facility, other patients at risk.”
Be sure to check your local policies to ensure you are screening for influenza vaccination for patients >50 years old. To read the public act, click here.
IDPH News
There have been changes to the Illinois Department of Public Health Control of Notifiable Diseases and Conditions Code that were effective February 27, 2024, found here.
Below are some highlights.
- Section 690.362 was added to address Cronobacter in infants younger than 12 months.
- Section 690.540 addresses multi-drug resistant organisms of epidemiologic significance. It provides language that requires healthcare facilities to comply with infection prevention and control best practice recommendations made by the local health department. More importantly, it requires notification to the receiving facility before admission/transfer when the patient/resident has a multi-drug resistant organism (MDRO) as well as if results for an MDRO are pending. When results are pending at the point of admission/transfer, the final results must be communicated with the facility.
- Section 690.660 Staphylococcus aureus, Methicillin Resistant (MRSA) in an infant less than 61 days has been repealed.
- Section 690.1510 adds a query requirement to the XDRO Registry reporting requirements. Hospitals, Long Term Acute Care Hospitals, Skilled and Intermediate Care Facilities, and Dialysis Centers are required to query the Registry for all new admissions. Note: Allowing notification by alerts meets this requirement.
- Section 690.1520 changes the reporting timeframe for Extensively Drug Resistant Organisms (XDROs) from 7 days to 3 days. Facilities are now required to report Candida auris and Carbapenem-resistant Organisms into the Registry. Recall that in the past, IDPH entered Candida auris and Carbapenem Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii into the Registry.
- Reporting periods have changed to within three hours, 24 hours, and three days. There is no longer a 7-day reporting period.
- Updates to the Control of Tuberculosis Code are expected soon.
National News
CDC Updates Infection Control Guidelines for HCP CDC released the updated Infection Control in Healthcare Personnel: Epidemiology and Control of Selected Infections Transmitted Among Healthcare Personnel and Patients (cdc.gov). This document supersedes the 1998 Guideline for Infection Control in Healthcare Personnel, Part E. The new sections include measles, mumps, rubella, varicella, and special populations: pregnant healthcare personnel. Additional updates are forthcoming. Read more.
Stop Use Order for Dräger N95 Filter Pads NIOSH posted a notice from Dräger Safety AG & Company, KGaA to alert users that multiple batches of 6738020 Particle filter N95 pads and 6738021 Particle filter R95 pads were manufactured a few millimeters too small and will not fit properly resulting in reduced filter performance. Read the Dräger notice.
APIC Comments to Federal Agencies APIC provided comments this week to CMS on a proposed rule to strengthen oversight of Accrediting Organizations. APIC also responded to a CDC proposal to expand the number of fungal diseases for which data may be collected.
Respirator Updates
Unapproved Mechanix Wear N95 FFR
NIOSH Rescinds Aswan Respirator Approvals
Temporary Stop Sale Order of Champak Respirators
Going to APIC National?
Are you going to APIC National in June? If you are looking for a chance
to meet up with other APIC Chicago members, let us know! Mary Alice Lavin will be there, supporting our chapter. If you are interested in meeting, click the link to fill out a form so we can gauge interest and contact you!
IP's in the Spotlight
Do you know an IP that is doing something fabulous?
Have you recently accomplished something big or small that
you’re proud of?
Have you worked on a team that has done great work?
Want to thank a coworker or colleague?
Well, this is the place! Please submit any kudos, accolades or shout-outs
to be published in our next quarterly newsletter! We know our APIC
Chicago IP’s do great work every day—and we want to celebrate YOU!
Simply scan the QR code to tell us something good, or click the link
here.
