Infection Prevention and Control Officer

Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City

Leadership Facilitating the infection control programme through expert advice in infection control practice for all stakeholders clinical and non-clinical. Collaborating with all departments on departmental policies related to infection control.
Providing advice and facilitating the occupational health, laboratory and the environmental health and safety staff in the event of a blood borne pathogen and body fluid exposure incident or any other Infection Prevention and Control issue.
Assists in risk and needs assessment for all departments around infection prevention and control issues.
Playing a key role in infection prevention and control committee.
Assisting line manager in related policy review or revision.
Participating in product evaluation process related to the field of Infection Prevention & Control
Assisting in the implementation of evidence based infection prevention and control strategies, led by line Manager and in conjunction with a multidisciplinary team that is effective and improves patient outcome.
Making self-accessible for infection prevention and control consultation in all phases of the change process.
Team and consensus building within and across stakeholder groups.

Management of Clinical Practice Demonstrates knowledge of microbiological and epidemiological principles supporting the Infection control programme by ensuring strong collaboration with all staff. Helping staff the translate programme into practice. br>In absence of line Manager Communicating with SEHA and where required HAAD on reportable infectious diseases, endemic and epidemic situation in the community.

Participates and facilitates in surveillance and epidemiologic investigation:
Assists with the design and implementation of surveillance systems according to latest NHSN definitionsbr> Collecting and reviewing, surveillance data with in line Managerbr> Analyzing and interpret surveillance data under the supervision of line manager.
Facilitates appropriate actions of clinicians and administrators based on Recommendations of Senior which are targeted to reduce or eliminate infectious risks in patients and staff. br> Performing active surveillance on device and procedure associated infections in the hospital and following up on epidemiological importance organisms/diseases as directed by Senior.
Collection and compilation of surveillance databr> Perform Medical Record Review and use electronic surveillance systems, access to/use of electronic databases/electronic data warehouse (EDW), other related applications, algorithmic detection and reporting processes, clinical decision support, infection prevention within the electronic health recordbr> Assists in conducting outbreak investigationsbr> Conducting contact tracing related to exposure of patients to communicable diseases as directed by seniorbr> Preparing and maintaining confidentiality of all aspects of infection prevention and control surveillance data collection, storage and distribution

Facilitates the identification of infectious disease processes:
Helps differentiate among colonization, infection, and contamination with in line Manager or appropriate colleagues for cliniciansbr> Assists with investigations to identify occurrences, reservoirs, incubation periods, periods of communicability, modes of transmission, signs and symptoms, and susceptibility associated with the disease processbr> Interpret results of diagnostic/lab reports under supervisionbr> Recognize limitations and advantages of types of tests used to diagnose infectious processesbr> Recognize epidemiologically significant organisms for immediate review and investigation, highlighting them to seniorbr> Works with Senior to differentiate among prophylactic, empiric, and therapeutic uses of antimicrobials and Identify indications for microbiologic monitoring

Identifies and implements infection prevention and control strategies according to specific topics:
- Hand hygiene
- Cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization
- Specific direct and indirect care settings
- Therapeutic and diagnostic procedures and devices
- Product/equipment recall procedures
- Use of isolation/barrier precautions when indicated
- Patient placement, transfer, discharge
- Environmental hazards
- Use of patient care products and medical equipment
- Patient immunization programs
- Construction and renovation
- Influx of patients with communicable diseases

Infection prevention and control: br> Works in collaboration with multidisciplinary team under the oversight of the Senior to apply and use surveillance data and reports, advanced statistical methods and tools, including application of the standard infection ratio, risk assessment, hazard vulnerability analysis,
Use and evaluation of emerging prevention practices for patient care, diagnostic methods,
Participation in antimicrobial stewardship programs

Employee/occupational health:br> Works with the multidisciplinary team under direction to provide counseling, and follow- up for preventing/controlling the transmission of infectious agents:
Review infection prevention and control policies and procedures with Senior and with departments
Promoting and implementing infection prevention and control guidelines/standards that improve patient outcome and reduce healthcare-associated infections.
Collaborate with Seniors who work with public health agencies in planning community responses to biologic agents
Investigating and studying trends in infection prevention and control practices, recommending changes or adjustments in existing practice for performance improvement.
Assist with analysis and trending of occupational exposure incidents and information exchange between occupational health and infection prevention and control departments
Conducting contact tracing related to exposure of employees to communicable diseases
Disaster Preparedness br>Response - Biological Assists with Disaster Preparedness and Biological Response Plan including, but not limited to:
- Ensure personal protective equipment resources are available at all times
- Effectively utilize resources during an disaster (i.e isolation rooms)
- Identify dedicated units to accommodate known or suspected patients with bioterrorism-related disease, or emerging infectious disease
- Participate in conducting annual drills related to Disaster Preparedness and Biological Response br>-