Both are Vital to the Safe Delivery of Healthcare
Impact on Patient Safety
Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) significantly threaten patient safety, causing longer hospital stays, higher medical costs, and increased mortality. Effective prevention, including strict hand hygiene, proper equipment disinfection and sterilization, and PPE use, is essential. Effective stewardship programs help preserve the efficacy of existing antibiotics, improve patient outcomes, and decrease the spread of resistant bacteria. Ensuring safety requires collaboration between healthcare workers and patients to follow these measures.
hospitalized patients have at least 1 healthcare-associated infection on any given day and at any given time¹
infections and billions of dollars in excess health care costs are related to healthcare-associated infections across the U.S. every year¹
antimicrobial-resistant infections occur in the U.S. each year, and more than 35,000 people die as a result¹
is the estimated annual national cost to treat infections caused by six antimicrobial-resistant germs frequently found in health care¹
Summary of Requirements by Program
IC Chapter Summary for HAP/CAH
IC.04.01.01, EP 1-5
This standard and elements of performance focus on hospital-wide infection prevention and control program for the surveillance, prevention, and control of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and other infectious diseases. The elements of performance address the program’s leader(s) and responsibilities, and requirements for the program’s policies and procedures and the scope.
IC.05.01.01, EP 1, 2
This standard and elements of performance focus on the hospital’s governing body being accountable for the infection prevention and control program, ensuring its implementation, performance, and sustainability.
IC.06.01.01, EP 1-5
This standard and elements of performance focus on the hospital’s implementation of its infection prevention and control program, including a proactive risk assessment to help organizations determine the scope of surveillance and implement the appropriate level of infection prevention and control activities.
IC.07.01.01, EP 1, 2
This standard and elements of performance focus on protocols to enhance hospitals’ and critical access hospitals’ preparedness for high-consequence infectious diseases or special pathogens.
Antibiotic Stewardship for HAP/CAH
MM.09.01.01, EP 10-21
This standard and elements of performance address the necessary structures and activities for implementing an effective antibiotic stewardship program. Requirements focus on appointing a program leader, convening a multidisciplinary oversight committee, providing staff education and training, monitoring antibiotic use and resistance patterns, and implementing evidence-based strategies to optimize prescribing practices and improve antibiotic stewardship activities.
IC Chapter Summary for ALC
IC.04.01.01, EP 1-9
This standard and elements of performance focus on an infection prevention and control program for the surveillance, prevention, and control of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and other infectious diseases. The elements of performance address the program’s leader(s) and responsibilities, and requirements for the program’s policies and procedures and the scope.IC.06.01.01, EP 1-8
This standard and elements of performance focus on the nursing care center’s implementation of its infection prevention and control program, including a proactive risk assessment to help organizations determine the scope of surveillance and implement the appropriate level of infection prevention and control activities.IC Chapter Summary for BHC
The standards in this chapter address the structures and activities necessary to support infection prevention and control activities in behavioral health organizations.
IC.04.01.01, EP 3, 9
This standard and elements of performance address policies and procedures and resources to support infection prevention and control activities.
IC.06.01.01, EP 1, 2, 3, 6, 8
This standard and elements of performance focus on implementation of infection prevention and control activities, including conducting a proactive risk assessment and implementing the appropriate level of infection prevention and control activities.
IC Chapter Summary for OME
IC.04.01.01, EP 3-8
This standard and elements of performance focus on an infection prevention and control program for the surveillance, prevention, and control of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and other infectious diseases. The elements of performance address the requirements for the program’s policies and procedures and methods for identifying infections and communicable disease issues.IC.06.01.01, EP 3-8
This standard and elements of performance focus on the home care organization’s implementation of its infection prevention and control program. The elements of performance address the requirements for implementing action plans to address infection control issues and improve its infection prevention and control program.IC Chapter Summary for LAB
The standards in this chapter address the structures and activities necessary to establish and operate an effective infection prevention and control program in clinical laboratories.
IC.04.01.01, EP 1,3
This standard and elements of performance cover requirements on infection prevention and control polices and procedures, and a qualified and trained leader who has direct oversight of the implementation of policies and procedures.
IC.06.01.01, EP 1-5
This standard and elements of performance focus on implementation of the laboratory infection prevention and control program, including conducting a proactive risk assessment and implementing the appropriate level of infection prevention and control activities.
IC.07.01.01, EP 1, 2
This standard and elements of performance focus on protocols to enhance laboratories’ preparedness for high-consequence infectious diseases or special pathogens.
IC Chapter Summary for NCC
IC.04.01.01, EP 1-3
This standard and elements of performance focus on an infection prevention and control program for the surveillance, prevention, and control of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and other infectious diseases. The elements of performance address the program’s leader(s) and responsibilities, and requirements for the program’s policies and procedures and the scope.IC.06.01.01, EP 1-8
This standard and elements of performance focus on the nursing care center’s implementation of its infection prevention and control program, including a proactive risk assessment to help organizations determine the scope of surveillance and implement the appropriate level of infection prevention and control activities.IC.06.01.03, EP 1, 2
This standard and elements of performance focus on the policies and procedures to help prevent and control the development and transmission of vaccine-preventable diseases among patients, residents, and staff.Antibiotic Stewardship for NCC
MM.09.01.01, EP 1-8
This standard and elements of performance address the necessary structures and activities for implementing an effective antibiotic stewardship program. Requirements focus on convening a multidisciplinary oversight committee, providing staff education and training, providing resident and family education on appropriate antibiotic use, monitoring antibiotic use and resistance patterns, and implementing evidence-based strategies to optimize prescribing practices and improve antibiotic stewardship activities.IC Chapter Summary for OBS
The standards in this chapter address the structures and activities necessary to establish and operate an effective infection prevention and control program in office-based surgery practices.
IC.04.01.01, EP 1, 3, 4, 10
This standard and elements of performance address the program’s leader and responsibilities, and requirements for the program’s policies and procedures.
IC.06.01.01, EP 1, 2, 3, 6, 8
This standard and elements of performance focus on implementation of the office-based surgery infection prevention and control program, including conducting a proactive risk assessment and implementing the appropriate level of infection prevention and control activities.
