Overview

Free Virtual event from 5-6pm.

Management of communicable infection involves a multidisciplinary approach. ​Communication to healthcare staff ensure​s everyone has up to date and relevant information to facilitate safe patient care and reduce ongoing transmission to patients and staff. For most infections there is a wealth of evidence available to inform best practice.  However, this new millennium has seen two pandemics; H1N1 and SARS-CoV2, emerging pathogens (Zika virus) and cases of imported high consequence infectious diseases such as Ebola. This has been against a backdrop of ​ongoing incidence of established healthcare-acquired infections such as Clostridioides difficile and carbapenemase-producing enterobacterales (CPE.)   

​It is recognised that implementing guidance for control of communicable pathogens can be challenging, even more so when there is a novel pathogen such as SARS-CoV2. How do we communicate guidance to control and manage these infections when the guidance itself is evolving and changing as quickly as the pathogens themselves? How do we persuade colleagues to follow guidance that may not be evidence based due to the novel nature of the pathogen? How can we combat the potential negative effects of social media can have, especially in the context of ever-changing national advice? And emerging from the pandemic, how do we harness the interest around IPC in addressing the wider context of healthcare acquired infections?

This joint RCPath/HIS webinar will be of interest to all healthcare professionals and healthcare students. It will include a panel of four experts with extensive ​IPC experience including ​the recent SARS-CoV2 pandemic, at national and local levels. They will ​discuss, answer ​and debate the answers to audience led questions ​(pre-submitted​) on these ​important issues, with the ​opportunity to ask questions live to the panel if time allows.

Confirmed panellists:

Cariad Evans, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Martin Kiernan, University of West London

Sara Mumford, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust     

Chairs:

Natasha Ratnaraja, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust

Gayti Morris, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Please send any questions you'd like to be answered during the webinar to [email protected] by Monday, 3rd of October.

This is a free Zoom event. Please register here.