01/18/2024

You Asked... We Answered

You Asked... 

We would like to get more than one staff member with the infection preventionist certificate. Where can I access the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Infection Preventionist Training? 

We Answered… 

The Nursing Home Infection Preventionist Training course can be accessed on the CDC TRAIN website. This course was updated on October 1, 2023. Beginning January 1, 2024, individuals will be able to earn continuing education (CE) for new, CDC-accredited courses directly in CDC TRAIN. Additional information is available at CDC Continuing Education Update. Additional information can be found on the CDC nursing home and assisted living webpage and within the CMS QSO-19-10-NH memo.

The CMS nursing home requirements of participation in accordance with §483.80(b) Infection preventionist that the facility must designate one or more individual(s) as the infection preventionist(s) (IP)(s) who are responsible for the facility’s Infection Prevention and Control Program (IPCP). The IP must have completed specialized training in infection prevention and control. The Infection prevention and control (IPC) training must be sufficient to perform the role of the IP. Specialized training in IPC may include care for residents with invasive medical devices, resident care equipment (e.g., ventilators), and treatment such as dialysis as well as high-acuity conditions. If a facility's resident population changes, the IP should re-evaluate his/her knowledge and skills, and may need to obtain additional training for the change in the facility’s scope of care.

An IP must have obtained specialized IPC training beyond initial professional training or education prior to assuming the role. Training can occur through more than one course, but the IP must provide evidence of training through a certificate(s) of completion or equivalent documentation.

CMS recommends specialized training include the following topics: 

• Infection prevention and control program overview,
• The infection preventionist’s role,
• Infection surveillance,
• Outbreaks,
• Principles of standard precautions (e.g., content on hand hygiene, personal protective equipment, injection safety, respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette, environmental cleaning and disinfection, and reprocessing reusable resident care equipment),
• Principles of transmission-based precautions,
• Resident care activities (e.g., use and care of indwelling urinary and central venous catheters, wound management, and point-of-care blood testing),
• Water management,
• Linen management,
• Preventing respiratory infections (e.g., influenza, pneumonia),
• Tuberculosis prevention,
• Occupational health considerations (e.g., employee vaccinations, exposure control plan, and work exclusions),
• Quality assurance and performance improvement,
• Antibiotic stewardship, and
• Care transitions.

CMS continues on to refer to the free online training that was developed by a collaboration between CMS and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The "Nursing Home Infection Preventionist Training Course" is located on CDC's TRAIN website. Other trainings may be available from entities such as associations, state public health, and universities.