5 minute read
Investigating infection prevention and control
from Health Business 19.2
by PSI Media
Investigating infection prevention and control
Leading experts in their field will present on the latest current and emerging threats and state-of- the-art research to help improve your team, your practice and your patients’ outcomes at Infection Prevention 2019
At the start of the year, the government published a 20-year vision and fiveyear national action plan for how the UK will contribute to containing and controlling AMR by 2040. Antibiotic resistance is predicted to kill 10 million peopleevery year by 2050 without action. Without effective antibiotics, straightforward, everyday operations like caesarean sections or hip replacements could become too dangerous to perform.
A major focus of the plan is to make sure current antibiotics stay effective by reducing the number of resistant infections and supporting clinicians to prescribe appropriately. The plans include targets such as: cutting the number of drug-resistant infections by 10 per cent (5,000 infections) by 2025; reducing the use of antibiotics in humans by 15 per cent; and preventing at least 15,000 patients from contracting infections as a result of their healthcare each year by 2024.
New technology will also be used to gather realtime patient data, helping clinicians understand when to use and preserve antibiotics in their treatment. This could be followed and adapted all over the world, building the database on antibiotic use and resistance.
Cutting antibiotic use
Since 2014, the UK has cut the amount of antibiotics it uses by more than seven per cent and sales of antibiotics for use in foodproducing animals have dropped by 40 per cent. But the number of drug-resistant bloodstream infections have increased by 35 per cent from 2013 to 2017.
The Department of Health and Social Care also outlined in January how the pharmaceutical industry will be expected to take more responsibility for antibiotic resistance. NICE and NHS England will explore a new payment model that pays pharmaceutical companies based on how valuable their medicines are to the NHS, rather than on the quantity of antibiotics sold.
Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said at the time: “Imagine a world without antibiotics. Where treatable infections become untreatable, where routine surgery like a hip operation becomes too risky to carry out, and where every wound is potentially life-threatening. What would go through your mind if your child cut their finger and you knew there was no antibiotic left that could treat an infection? This was the human condition until almost a century ago. I don’t want it to be the future for my children – yet it may be unless we act.
“As Health Secretary, responsible for one of the most advanced healthcare systems in the world, I could not look my children in the eyes unless I knew I was doing all in my power to solve this great threat. When we have time to act. But the urgency is now. Each and every one of us benefits from antibiotics, but we all too easily take them for granted, and I shudder at the thought of a world in which their power is diminished. Antimicrobial resistance is as big a danger to humanity as climate change or warfare. That’s why we need an urgent global response.”
Infection Prevention 2019
Infection Prevention 2019 will bring together infection prevention and control professionals from around the world to share and debate best practice, research and discuss issues within the infection prevention field. This year marks a special occasion, as we will be celebrating 60 years of Infection Control Nursing.
The three-day conference will present the latest scientific evidence from around the globe and is expected to attract upwards of 600 professionals. The audience is varied and will include; infection prevention control nurses, DIPCs, infection control managers, microbiologists, antibiotic pharmacists, managers as well as other colleagues in associated professions.
There are many professional and business benefits to attending Infection Prevention 2019. The conference offers an excellent environment in which to learn, build relationships, exchange ideas, network and socialise with your colleagues and industry partners.
You will learn from leading experts in their field who will present on the latest current and emerging threats and state-of-the-art research to help improve your team, your practice and your patients’ / clients’ outcomes. These will be delivered through a combination of comprehensive presentations, meet-theexpert sessions and specialist streams of: leadership, paediatrics, new to infection prevention and international engagement.
Preventable infection
The programme has been prepared in furtherance of the IPS Mission Statement: No patient is harmed by a preventable infection. Secondly, the programme has direct relevance to your practice; you will have learning opportunities that will motivate and inspire you to consider how your local infection prevention and control programmes could be modified to improve care and reduce infection risks.
You are encouraged to participate in conference by submitting an abstract for an oral or poster presentation. Presenting will give you the opportunity to play a key part in conference, whilst also contributing towards your continuous professional development. All abstracts are to be submitted online via the conference website before the closing date on 12 June 2019.
You will hear from a wide range of UK based and international speakers including Professor Brett Mitchell, Dr Tim Boswell, Dr Gonzalo Bearman, Professor Claire Rickard, David Green, Professor Jennie Wilson and many others who are acclaimed for their expertise within the infection prevention and control industry.
You will gain access to an exceptional educational programme and be able to attend the largest infection prevention exhibition in the UK offering exclusive access each day to learn about new science, technologies, advances, and products that provide solutions to infection prevention challenges and strengthen infection prevention programmes.
Application for Continuing Professional Development accreditation from the Royal College of Pathologists is underway. In addition, all presentations will be mapped against the IPS competences to facilitate personaliseddevelopment and career progression.
In addition to the main conference programme, Infection Prevention 2019 will see the return of the greatly received Infection Prevention Show. Dr Phil Hammond - NHS doctor, BBC broadcaster, Private Eye journalist and comedian, will host this exciting event taking place on 23 September 2019. The audience will be able to interact with experts and personalities whilst discussing new ways to combat infections and how to prepare for the future.
Conference agenda
Infection Prevention 2019 includes two supplementary one-day conferences which can be attended on their own or as part of the main conference registration. The first is a day for the Development of Infection Prevention and Control Leaders taking place on 22 September 2019. This one day conference is designed for infection prevention and control aspiring and experienced leaders to help them approach the challenges ahead by providing expert workshops and presentations on behaviour, challenges and quality improvement.
The second is focused on Infection Prevention in Paediatrics taking place on 24 September 2019. This day will address paediatric care across areas such as infection prevention and control, tissue viability and wound care, IV and infectious diseases. The programme has been tailored towards all paediatric healthcare workers.
The Society’s social programme is equally acclaimed – especially the Infection Prevention Society Awards Ceremony and Gala Dinner, which will be held at the Rum Warehouse (Titanic Hotel) on Monday 23 September and recognises the talent and commitment that lies within the membership at a branch, team and an individual practitioner level. The annual Fun Night will be taking place at Revolución de Cuba offering an opportunity for conference delegates and exhibitors to socialise in an informal setting.
With all this taking place over a three-day conference, we hope you and your colleagues are able to join us in Liverpool for this exciting, educational and practice-enhancing conference. Microorganisms and healthcare continue to evolve; Infection Prevention 2019 is your best opportunity to stay up to date.
The Infection Prevention Society (IPS) represents 2,000 members working in the field of infection prevention and control, and plays a key role in helping to protect the public. Its vision is that no person is harmed by a preventable infection. Its mission is to inform promote and sustain expert infection prevention policy and practice in the pursuit of patient or service user and staff safety wherever care is delivered.
FURTHER INFORMATION
ips.uk.net/conference
