Stef Controls Infections

Yesterday was the second annual Infection Preventionist Day.

Oftentimes the infection prevention and control (IPAC) team works behind-the-scenes, ensuring appropriate practices are being followed to prevent the spread of infection to patients, staff and visitors. It's easy to overlook the hard work done by the IPAC team, thinking that we only deal with hand hygiene and taking people off isolation precautions. It only took a pandemic for everyone to finally recognize the extent of the work we do.

Yes, hand hygiene and assessing isolation precautions are part of our program, but so is managing outbreaks, providing recommendations on room placements, educating staff, monitoring practice, keeping track of healthcare-associated infections, ensuring a clean hospital environment, etc. It's impossible to list all the aspects of a hospital system we're involved in, but you can imagine how infection prevention is involved in a lot of processes.

Thank you APIC () for recognizing the hard, tireless work that us infection control practitioners do day in and day out. The pandemic has pushed us to our limits and we still keep going. We do it for you, to keep everyone as safe as possible. In light of the third wave in Canada, healthcare systems are strained and we are struggling to provide the best care.

Please everyone, COVID hasn't gone away yet. If you choose to hang out with people outside of your bubble, keep your masks on at the very least. We're almost there. Every day, more and more people are getting vaccinated. We're almost there 🙏

Swipe left to see if two masks are better than one! 👈😷

TL;DR two masks aren't necessary if you're wearing a mask that has at least two layers!

Sources:⁠
https://www.health.com/condition/infectious-diseases/coronavirus/does-wearing-two-masks-prevent-covid⁠
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https://blogs.webmd.com/public-health/20201106/is-wearing-two-masks-better-than-one⁠
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https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/11/03/929555568/coronavirus-faqs-are-3-masks-better-than-1-will-mouthwash-keep-you-safe @ Toronto, Ontario

EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON.
It's cliché but it's true, at least for me. I didn't plan on working in infection control until a series of events led me to discover the field. I will forever be grateful for all my mentors along the way, and for the support from my family and friends ♥️

Now I'd like to pay it forward by advocating about infection control as a potential career option for others who may be interested in it as well, but have never heard of it or never discovered it! I want to be a part of the mentoring of the next generation of infection control practitioners.

This post is my personal path to infection control, but there are so many other possibilities that could lead you to the same destination. If you are interested in the field of infection control, please reach out to me and ask me all the questions you have 😄 @ Toronto, Ontario

Happy Sunday! ☀️ Every double-tap puts a smile on an essential worker's face ♥️😄

Don't forget to wear your mask, clean your hands and stay away from others 🦠😷 @ Toronto, Ontario