Building a Strong Foundation
Bland Nursing and Rehab, a ventilator-capable skilled nursing facility in Southwest Virginia, recently achieved a major milestone: its carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumanii (CRAB) outbreak has officially closed, with no new cases identified. This success came from a team effort focused on strengthening infection prevention practices across the facility.
Leadership secured a full-time infection preventionist and built strong support from key leaders, including the administrator, director of nursing, assistant director of nursing, wound care nurse, and respiratory therapy manager. Together, they created a culture focused on safety, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Turning Plans into Action
The facility redesigned its environmental services program by updating cleaning policies, introducing an automated disinfectant dispensing system, and switching to single-use microfiber mops for each resident room. Staff received retraining and competency validation to ensure consistent practices.
The team also strengthened personal protective equipment (PPE), hand hygiene, and isolation precaution monitoring through regular audits, observations, and staff education. Respiratory therapy practices were enhanced through direct observation, competency validation, simulation-based training, and routine audits of ventilator and tracheostomy care.
Keep the Momentum Going
Bland Nursing and Rehab’s success shows that lasting infection prevention is possible when leadership, education, monitoring, and teamwork come together. Facilities looking to strengthen their own programs can take advantage of these free resources:
- CDC Project Firstline: Practical training materials and educational resources to support staff education and reinforce infection prevention best practices.
- VDH Infection Prevention and Control Assessments: No-cost, consultative, non-regulatory onsite help to identify strengths and address potential gaps in your facility’s infection prevention and control program.
These resources can help facilities proactively strengthen infection prevention practices to protect residents, staff, and the entire care community.
