Infection Control Training Centers

What We Do › Infection Control › Infection Control Training Centers

While hospital infection control in the former Soviet Union has a strong hygienic tradition—most hospitals in the region are kept sufficiently clean—nosocomial infections are more likely to be spread through person-to-person contact, so additional emphasis must be placed on patient care practices.

Building on the successful training center model used for its Emergency and Disaster Medicine and Neonatal Resuscitation programs, AIHA created a comprehensive plan for establishing Infection Control Training Centers (ICTCs) that addresses issues such as developing targeted curricula, educating faculty in evidence-based infection control standards and adult-learning techniques, and compiling appropriate reference and teaching materials. To date, four of these Training Centers have been established, one each in Georgia, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Ukraine.

The cornerstone of each of ICTC is a one week Basic Infection Control Course that was developed for hospital epidemiologists, assistant epidemiologists, and other physicians and nurses who are responsible for infection control practices in their hospitals. This course has been introduced by the national ministries of health of Georgia, Kazakhstan, and Russia into the continuing education curriculum for all hospital epidemiologists.

In addition, the first edition of AIHA’s Basic Infection Control Manual for nations in the region—co-authored by US and Russian infection control experts—was published in 1997 and distributed to all partnership hospitals, major teaching institutions, and national and regional health authorities. In 2003, the manual was updated under the direction of an international editorial committee that included specialists from Eurasia and internationally recognized American experts. It is currently being used by infection control professionals as both a teaching tool and a major resource in their day-to-day practice. Complementing these key elements, are a host of slides, reference materials, and electronic media that enhance the training experience.

Finally, a special “Train the Trainers” program was designed to ensure ICTC faculty remain current on evidence-based infection control practices and continuing education methods. This program allows for the gradual involvement of faculty from the region in teaching the Basic Infection Control Course, first jointly with their American partners and then on their own.

« Go Back