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To stop the spread of infections, everyone working in a healthcare facility needs to have a foundational knowledge of infection prevention and must be ready to implement basic measures throughout their workday and at home. In this session, we will discuss how infections spread and identify ways to break this chain. We will discuss the differences in standard and transmission-based precautions and what each of those consist of. And then finally, we will discuss methods for controlling infections while providing care. Together, we have the power to help stop infections from spreading.

Objectives:

• Review the chain of transmission and identify strategies to break this chain
• Explore the modes of infection transmission
• Differentiate between standard and transmission-based precautions
• Discuss methods for controlling infections while providing care

Presenter: Cheri Fast, RN, BSN, CIC

With over 30 years in healthcare, Cheri works for the South Dakota Foundation for Medical Care and is leading South Dakota’s Project Firstline. This is a national infection prevention and awareness initiative sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the South Dakota Department of Health.

Fast has worked with facilities, healthcare providers, community leaders and patients on multiple healthcare initiatives, including antibiotic stewardship. She recently obtained her certification in Infection Control and is anxious to work with facilities and frontline healthcare workers on infection prevention measures to keep us all safe.

Fast has also received her certification in case management and wound care. She played a pivotal role in the development of a national Home Health Infection Prevention Toolkit and was selected to serve as a technical reviewer for the national organization. She has taught numerous diabetes education classes and is currently a Master Trainer for Better Choices, Better Health in Diabetes, Chronic Disease Management, and Pain. Cheri has worked as a Quality Risk Manager and Infection Control Nurse and also completed the AgriSafe Nurse Scholar class in 2019 and was selected to serve as South Dakota’s Total Farmer Health Coach, which promotes health and wellness to SD agriculture producers.