Stepping into Infection Prevention: Key Questions Every New IP Should Ask

Stepping into Infection Prevention: Key Questions Every New IP Should Ask

Starting as an Infection Preventionist (IP) may feel overwhelming – balancing surveillance, education, data tracking, and compliance all at once. This Q&A highlights common questions new IPs ask and offers practical, experience-based answers to help you build confidence and consistency in your new role.

Q: What are some of the top priorities during the first 90 days as an Infection Preventionist?

A: Focus on learning your facility’s systems:

• • Review infection control policies and procedures to ensure they align with current CMS, CDC, and local health guidance.
  • Understand your surveillance process – how infections are tracked, defined, and reported.
  • Build relationships with clinical, environmental services, dietary, and other key leadership – collaboration is key to successful prevention.
  • Assess your data – review last year’s infection rates, outbreaks, and antibiotic use to identify trends.

Q: What surveillance data should I collect and how often?

A: Surveillance should be systematic and consistent and include tracking of the following:

• • Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) such as UTIs, respiratory infections, wound infections, and C. difficile.
  • Antibiotic usage patterns for stewardship efforts.
  • Vaccination rates of influenza, pneumococcal, COVID-19, RSV and other facility-specific requirements
  • Outbreaks or clusters — any unusual increase in infection rates.
  • Use a daily or weekly review of labs, clinical notes, and transfer records to stay proactive.

Q: How can I make infection prevention education more engaging for staff?

A: Keep it simple, visual, and interactive:

• • Use brief in-services or “huddle” style updates instead of long meetings.
  • Share real data (e.g., “hand hygiene compliance improved from 72% to 90% last month”).
  • Conduct demonstrations (proper PPE donning/doffing, hand hygiene, etc.).
  • Recognize staff who model best practices — positive reinforcement builds culture.

Q: How do I handle an infection outbreak or cluster?

A: Stay calm, stay systematic:

• • Verify the problem — confirm lab results and apply case definitions.
  • Notify leadership and public health department, if required.
  • Implement immediate precautions — isolation, enhanced cleaning, and cohorting as needed.
  • Track and document all cases timely – best practice is daily.
  • Conduct root cause analysis after containment to prevent recurrence.

Q: What are some common areas surveyors will look at during the infection prevention focus of the survey process?

A: Surveyors often focus on:

• • Hand hygiene and PPE compliance
  • Isolation precautions
  • Cleaning and disinfection practices
  • Water management plans
  • Staff competency and training documentation
  • Antibiotic stewardship activities
  • Infection control committee minutes and QAPI integration

Additional survey tips include having documentation ready and ensure policies match practice. You may reference CMS-20054 Critical Element Pathway – Infection Prevention, Control and Immunizations for survey preparation.

Q: How can I connect infection prevention with the facility’s QAPI program?

A: Infection control data is a core part of QAPI.

• • Share monthly infection trends with the QAA/QAPI committee.
  • Identify performance improvement opportunities (e.g., reduce UTIs by 25% over 6 months).
  • Track progress with data dashboards and visual charts.
  • Document actions taken and outcomes achieved.

Q: Where can I find other reliable infection prevention resources?

A: Some helpful sources include:

• • CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/infectioncontrol
  • CMS: Appendix PP – State Operations Manual
  • APIC: Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology
  • NHSN: National Healthcare Safety Network
  • State/local health departments for outbreak reporting requirements

Remember, infection prevention isn’t about perfection — it’s about progress, consistency, and communication. Keep learning, network with other IPs, and remember small daily improvements add up to safer and improved quality of care.

Next Steps! Register to join Proactive October 22-23, 2025 from 9a-2:30p CST each day for our SNF Infection Preventionist Virtual Workshop. This intensive session provides practical information using real-world scenarios and case studies to help your IP effectively manage IPC programs, conduct surveillance, oversee ATB Stewardship and prepare for survey.

Written By:

Liz Wheeler, BSN, RN, CHPN, IPCO, QCP, CDP

Clinical Consultant

Proactive LTC Consulting