PICNet is pleased to welcome Lucy Truong into her role as the new Office and Communications Coordinator. Lucy comes to us from PHSA Laboratories Corporate Office. We are excited to have her join our team and look forward to helping her transition into her new role. Lucy can be contacted at lucy.truong@phsa.ca or (604) 707-2667.

Provincial Surveillance Program

We are looking forward to releasing the first province-wide aggregate report on the incidence of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) in BC later this year. The Surveillance Program is a collaborative effort between all five regional Health Authorities: Fraser Health, Interior Health, Northern Health, Vancouver Coastal Health and Vancouver Island Health Authority, as well as PHSA, Providence Health Care and affiliates. PICNet wishes to thank everyone involved with implementing the program as well as PICNet’s Surveillance Systems Coordinator, Ellie Sheng, who has been instrumental in the program’s progress. Once released, the report will be posted on our website at www.picnetbc.ca.

Our newly formed Surveillance Steering Committee held its second meeting on October 27, 2009 to discuss the development of the new Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Surveillance Module. The objectives for the MRSA Surveillance Module are now determined and the group is planning to meet again at the end of November to establish case definitions for the surveillance of MRSA in acute care facilities in BC.

Surgical Site Infection E-Module

Vancouver Coastal Health’s Educational Technologies Department and PICNet are working on the final chapter of the surgical site infection prevention educational module. The development of the online e-module is in the final stages of completion with beta testing to begin this month.

Long Term Care Needs Assessment

In light of recent announcements of operational changes within some of BC’s regional Health Authorities and affiliates, the importance of participation in the Long Term Care Needs Assessment online survey is even more apparent. If you were randomly selected as a participant, please remember to complete your survey today. The survey will allow Health Authorities to identify areas of need for resources and provide the ability to develop an accurate business case towards attaining additional funding for the development of infection prevention and control programs in long term care settings.

The data collection for the needs assessment is in its final stages and the data analysis planning will be underway this month. PICNet would like to thank everyone who responded to the online survey. Look out for a report to be released in the new year.

GI Outbreak Guidelines

The gastrointestinal outbreak guidelines are intended to provide health care facilities with evidence based reference material to aid in developing or updating policies or processes that pertain to the prevention, surveillance for, identification and control of gastrointestinal outbreaks. The working group is currently reviewing the first draft of the guidelines.

UPCOMING PROJECTS…

Clostridium difficile Associated Disease (CDAD) Toolkit

PICNet will be calling a future meeting of health care professionals from every Health Authority in BC to compile a toolkit of the various materials and strategies being used for the infection prevention and control of CDAD.  This project will allow the different Health Authorities to share their resources and experiences amongst each other, and build upon work that has already been completed in this area.

Vaccine Preventable Diseases Occupational Health Collaboration

With the completion of the document: Recommendations for Baseline Assessment and Management of Health Care Workers (HCW) who are Cases or Contacts of Mumps by the Occupational Health and Mumps Vaccine Expert Working Group, PICNet is looking forward to facilitating similar work on Measles and Rubella in the new year.

Project Proposals

PICNet accepts project proposals throughout the entire year. The deadline for proposals to be considered for the next fiscal year is December 31, 2009. Previously submitted project proposals must be resubmitted in order to be considered for the next fiscal year.

Education Resource Fund

If you are interested in applying for the Education Resource fund grant the deadline is March 31, 2010, but now is a great time to get a head start on your application. Members of PICNet’s community of practice may apply to receive up to $2,000 annually to support their attendance at a conference, meeting or other educational activity of their choice.

If you have qualified to receive funding for this fiscal year (2009/2010), please remember to submit your receipts for reimbursement before the fiscal year-end.

For downloadable proposal and application forms visit the Forms & Feedback section of www.picnetbc.ca.

Since February 2006 PICNet has purchased and hosted educational classes offered by Webber Training.  These classes address topics of interest to infection control professionals and other health care professionals worldwide.

For more information on the topics and faculty of the 2009 Teleclass Education lecture series please visit the Webber Training web site www.webbertraining.com. Sign-up to receive emailed reminders of up-coming teleclasses which include links to class slides, handouts and the local PICNet teleconference connection number by emailing PICNet directly.

There are three Webber teleclasses scheduled for November 2009.

Date:

Teleclass Topic and Speaker:

Nov. 12

Clostridium difficile Associated disease: A Financial Burden Analysis

Professor Ralf-Peter Vonber, Hanover Medical school, Germany

Nov. 19

Viruses and Hand Hygiene

Professor Syed Sattar, University of Ottawa