Infection Prevention and Control Response and Escalation Framework - evaluation and application beyond a pandemic.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic brought rapid and frequent changes to Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) recommendations making it difficult for clinicians to stay informed of the most recent requirements and guidelines. The COVID-19 IPAC Response and Escalation Framework (IPAC Framework) was developed to provide scalable IPAC guidance during the pandemic to healthcare in New South Wales, Australia. The use of such frameworks during or outside of a pandemic has rarely been reported and evaluated here.

Methods: Using a thematic analysis approach, a qualitative study using an online, cross-sectional survey comprising 27 questions was sent to 248 key stakeholders. Participants were health workers with broad clinical and system representation with responsibilities for risk assessment, communicating, implementing and/or monitoring the IPAC Framework.

Results: The IPAC Framework provided a useful IPAC tool for the management of COVID-19 as perceived by 93% of respondents. The overwhelming majority (91%) reported the Framework provided enough information on IPAC strategies needed for COVID-19 that were aligned with transmission risk. Resources supporting the IPAC Framework were reported by most respondents (84%) as being widely accepted as the authoritative guidance.

Conclusion: An IPAC response and escalation framework is perceived as highly useful by clinicians and administrators to manage IPAC requirements in health care during a pandemic. The IPAC Framework can be applied more generally to support ongoing IPAC requirements.