Educational Webinar Presentation

Sink Drain Disinfection to Eliminate Carbapenem Resistant Enterbacterales (CRE) Klebsiella Organisms - Patient Infection Cluster Investigation and Risk Mitigation

This event will provide 1.0 CE

This presentation will outline the steps of a case study of the successful containment of a cluster of CRE Klebsiella infections from sink drains in a Critical Care Unit:

• The source of infections (biofilms containing CRE organisms in the plumbing fixtures) and how it was identified

• Benchmarking contamination of sink drains by environmental sampling.

• Mitigation practices.

• Environmental sampling for verification of effectiveness.

• Point prevalence study to assure infections abated after the mitigation strategies were put in place.

This nursing continuing professional development activity is pending approval by the Northeast Multistate Division Education Unit, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.

Participants will be able to discuss infection prevention best practices that can prevent infections caused by sink contamination.

Attendance at entire activity is required.

Completion/submission of evaluation form.

No individual in a position to control content for this activity have any relevant financial relationships to declare.

There is no commercial support being received for this event.

Speakers:

Stacy Ryan, RN, MSN, CIC

Bryan Connors, MS, CIH, HEM

Stacey Ryan has worked in the field of Nursing for over 25 years. She received

her Master of Science in Community/Public Health Nursing from Northeastern

University. Stacey is Board Certified in Infection Prevention and Control, and has

20 years of experience in that specialty. She has worked in a variety of settings

including acute care, pediatrics, home care, public health, corrections, and

education. Currently, Stacey is the Director of Infection Prevention and Control

for Signature Healthcare Corporation where she is responsible for the infection

prevention and control activities at a 200-bed acute care hospital and several

ambulatory clinics. Stacey has led many initiatives to reduce healthcare-acquired

infections associated with the environment. Working closely with the Sterile

Processing Department and frontline ambulatory staff, Stacey instituted a

centralized sterilization program for the organization. In addition, Stacey

developed a multi-faceted program which has resulted in a significant and

sustained reduction in hospital-acquired Clostridium difficile infections.

Bryan Connors directs Environmental Health & Engineering’s (EH&E) healthcare practice. Bryan has led numerous environmental infection outbreak investigations at hospitals throughout the US, related to SARS-CoV-2, fungal infections, bacterial infections as well as Legionella/waterborne pathogens and other

opportunistic microorganisms associated with the physical environment. Bryan’s

extensive knowledge of hospital infrastructure and operations, their dynamic

nature, and its impact on patient safety is key to his success in working closely

with facilities and infection prevention groups to determine root cause(s), identify

sources and exposure pathways, implement mitigation measures, and establish

prevention programs.