Several leading infection prevention specialists were featured at a recent conference on Addressing the Environment as a Reservoir for Infection. The conference was hosted by the NYS Partnership for Patients (NYSPFP), a joint initiative of GNYHA and the Healthcare Association of New York State.
Keith S. Kaye, MD, Professor of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, and President of the Board of Trustees for the Society of Healthcare Epidemiology of America, reviewed current trends in the prevention of infection from multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO). Boston University School of Medicine Clinical Professor of Medicine Philip Carling, MD, a nationally renowned speaker and researcher in patient area surface disinfectant cleaning, discussed key interventions and recommendations to reduce environmental contamination and assess the efficacy of cleaning.
NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center’s Chief Hospital Epidemiologist and Professor of Medicine, Health Policy, and Research David Calfee, MD, shared his experiences engaging with environmental services teams as part of a larger infection prevention effort to reduce MDRO infections. NYC Health + Hospitals/Coney Island’s Associate Director of Infection Control Briana E. Episcopia, RN, CIC, a conference participant, noted that “the conference was very relevant to our work and provided fresh ideas. I left the conference energized about improving the environment at our facility to prevent the spread of infections.” A recording of the conference will be available on the NYSPFP website.