Infection prevention field faces shortages, even as need increases

The pandemic has led to a shortage of infection preventionists, even as the field expands, an Association for Professional in Infection Control and Epidemiology focus group study found. Published this week in the Journal of Infection Control, the 90 IPs who participated in late 2021 described how the pandemic has changed the field. The IPs discussed being more involved in policy, the challenge of transitioning back to routine care while still responding to the pandemic, the heightened need for IPs across practice settings, challenges in recruiting and retaining IPs and significant burnout. They proposed initiatives to improve their well-being and said they wanted more authority and resources to make changes necessary to protect patient and worker safety. (Journal of Infection Control study, 3/4/23)