Description
- Abstract:
- Infection prevention and control (IPC) is a cornerstone of patient safety across all healthcare settings and is essential for preventing transmission of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). HAIs are associated with substantial morbidity, prolonged hospitalizations, and increased mortality risk.1 Effective IPC practices, including consistent hand hygiene, appropriate use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and environmental cleaning, are critical to preventing infectious outbreaks and mitigating strain on healthcare systems.2 Despite this, implementation and adherence to IPC practices remain highly variable across care settings and patient populations, reflecting differences in clinical workflows, physical environments, staff training, and resource availability.3 Behavioral health settings have increasingly been recognized as priority settings for the development of tailored IPC strategies and programs.4 These settings present distinct operational and clinical challenges arising from the intersection of congregate care environments and specialized therapeutic and clinical needs.5,6 Despite these unique challenges, IPC in behavioral health settings has historically received less attention than in acute-care settings, contributing to important gaps in evidence-based guidance on IPC best practices.
- Notes:
- Thesis (M. P. H.)--Brown University, 2026
Citation
Boullier, Isabelle,
"Barriers and Facilitators to Infection Prevention and Control in Behavioral Health Settings: A Survey of Infection Prevention Professionals in North America"
(2026).
Epidemiology Theses and Dissertations.
Brown Digital Repository. Brown University Library.
https://repository.library.brown.edu/studio/item/bdr:n6as7kaw/
