Impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the infection prevention and control field: Findings from focus groups conducted with association for professionals in infection control & epidemiology (APIC) members in fall 2021 - 24/08/23

Doi : 10.1016/j.ajic.2023.02.013

Terri Rebmann, PhD, RN, CIC, FAPIC ^a,^⁎ , Jill E. Holdsworth, MS, CIC, FAPIC, NREMT, CRCST ^b, Kaeli A. Lugo, BS ^a, Rebecca T. Alvino, RN, MS, CNS, CIC ^c, Ashley Gomel, MPH ^a
^a Institute for Biosecurity, College for Public Health and Social Justice, Saint Louis University. St Louis, MO
^b Emory University Hospital Midtown. Atlanta, GA
^c UCSF Health San Francisco, CA

^⁎Address correspondence to Terri Rebmann PhD, RN, CIC, FAPIC, Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, College for Public Health and Social Justice, Saint Louis University, 1 North Grand DuBourg Room 101A, Saint Louis, MO 63108.Department of Epidemiology & BiostatisticsCollege for Public Health and Social JusticeSaint Louis University1 North Grand DuBourg Room 101ASaint LouisMO63108

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Highlights

•	Infection preventionists (IPs) were pressured to transition back to nonpandemic work, even though their pandemic duties continued.
•	Gains made in preventing health care associated infections were lost during the pandemic.
•	IPs experienced a great deal of burnout during the pandemic
•	Health care leaders faced great difficulty in recruiting and retaining IPs during the pandemic
•	Restructuring and investment are needed for infection prevention programs in some facilities and systems

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Abstract

Introduction

Emergence of the Delta variant in 2021 changed the pandemic landscape and led to healthcare surges across the US, despite availability of COVID-19 vaccine. Anecdotal information indicated that the infection prevention and control (IPC) field was changing, but formal assessment was needed.

Methods

Focus groups (6) were conducted with APIC members in November and December, 2021 to elicit infection preventionists' (IP) opinions changes to the IPC field due to the pandemic. Focus groups were audio recorded via Zoom and transcribed. Content analysis was used to identify major themes.

Results

Ninety IPs participated. IPs described multiple changes to the IPC field during the pandemic, including being more involved in policy development, the challenge of transitioning back to routine IPC while still responding to COVID-19, increased need for IPs across practice settings, difficulties in recruiting and retaining IPs, presenteeism in healthcare, and extensive burnout. Participants suggested approaches to improve IPs' wellbeing.

Conclusions

The ongoing pandemic has brought significant changes to the IPC field, including a shortage of IPs just as the field is expanding rapidly. The continued overwhelming workload and stress due to the pandemic has resulted in burnout among IPs and the need for initiatives to improve their wellbeing.

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Key Words : Burnout, Vaccine, Hopelessness