Australian infection prevention and control leads' perceptions of their roles and responsibilities in residential aged care during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study.

Background: Residents of residential aged care facilities were disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. In 2020, the Australian Government mandated the appointment of Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) leads. The aim of this research was to explore the experiences of IPC leads working in Australian residential aged care facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic, to improve preparation for future pandemics.

Methods: Infection Prevention and Control leads working in small and large residential aged care facilities for more than 12 weeks between December 2020 and December 2022 participated in individual semi-structured interviews. Data were analysed via thematic analysis.

Results: Seven IPC leads were interviewed. Seven themes emerged: 1. Transition into IPC Lead Role, 2. Role and Responsibilities, 3. Facilitators and Barriers to Effective Implementation, 4. Role Reception and Implementation, 5. Role Evaluation, 6. Unique Challenges and Contextual Factors, and 7.

Future directions: Particular challenges included lack of consistent guidance and role descriptions, workloads, sufficient resourcing, role evaluation strategies, and training specifically focused on the setting. Residential care settings provided specific challenges related to the clientele, including the difficulties isolating residents with dementia, and impacts on resident quality of life.

Conclusions: The study findings describe the multifaceted role and experiences of IPC leads during the COVID-19 pandemic. The unique challenges and evolving nature of the role underscore the need for flexible and adaptive approaches to IPC. Developing evidence-based guidelines, enhancing training programs, improving resource allocation, and fostering supportive organisational cultures will be critical in addressing the challenges identified in this study.