An overarching goal in health care is preventing and treating infections. But did you know that there’s a specific team dedicated to just that task?

Stan Stuckey has seen a lot during the 20 years he’s spent working in the field of infection prevention. He began his career at Truman Medical Center (now University Health) in Kansas City and then spent 14 years at Olathe Medical Center before taking an early retirement.

The COVID-19 pandemic was well underway when Stuckey came to LMH Health in 2020.

“I’d worked with a couple of people at Olathe who had moved to LMH Health, and they contacted me to see if I would be willing to work in infection control as they brought on a new manager. ‘Temporarily’ turned into four years and I’m still at LMH,” he said.

The objective of an infection prevention team is to provide education on safety measures, equipment and protective gear. Their work impacts all areas of the hospital from clinical staff, maintenance facilities and administration to anybody who enters LMH Health’s doors.

“When people think about infections, one of the first things that comes to mind is the flu or COVID-19,” Stuckey said. “While we do focus on preventing the spread of those infections, we also focus on the basics, such as proper hand hygiene.”

When Sydney Efkamp began her health care career as a certified medical laboratory scientist, she didn’t have a clear understanding about the role of the infection prevention team.

“To me, prevention was following OSHA guidelines and being safe in the lab. The idea of an infection prevention team was brand new to me,” Efkamp said.

Efkamp didn’t set out to change paths toward a career in infection prevention, but an open position at LMH Health piqued her interest. She was already comfortable looking at microbiology and molecular test results and realized that that correlated with isolation and disease states. She recently celebrated a milestone, having completed her first year in infection prevention.

“One of the best parts of my job is being surrounded by colleagues that are passionate about their work and the wellbeing of our community,” she said.

A change of pace is what drew Jill Hardy, infection prevention manager, to make a career change. As a former hematology nurse, caring for the vulnerable came naturally to her. Already familiar with the concepts of infection prevention, Hardy chose to give infection prevention a chance in 2017.

She quickly began to realize infection prevention was more than a career; it was a calling. The infection prevention team is what motivated Jill to take the leap into management at LMH Health this year.

“We have a phenomenal infection prevention program and team,” she said. “The team’s expertise, dedication and commitment to patient safety is something that is unmatched. Stan and Sydney reminded me of why I got into health care, and I am so honored to be here.”

What is an infectious disease?

Infectious disease is a broad term that is used to describe an illness that is caused by an external microorganism and can spread through contact with the environment, animals or humans. Bacteria, fungi, parasites and viruses are all a part of the microorganism family that can cause infections.

“Not all infectious diseases are life-threatening,” Efkamp said. “The common cold is a good example of an infectious disease that can easily spread and is preventable through proper hygiene practices.”

Many infectious diseases are easily treatable with over-the-counter medication or assistance from a provider. Common symptoms of an infection include fatigue, chills, muscle pain, fever and cough. Everyone is susceptible to getting an infectious disease, however certain pre-existing conditions, such as a weakened immune system, age or chronic conditions, can make certain people more vulnerable.

“When you have individuals who are more vulnerable to infections, it is up to us as the community to step up and protect them by limiting and preventing the spread of those infectious diseases,” Stuckey said.

Preventing the spread

A large part of the work LMH Health’s infection prevention team does is preparation in case of an outbreak. This is done by tracking and monitoring outbreaks in the region, country and around the world.

“Some infections, such as respiratory infections, are inevitable. We know that there will be an increase in the flu in the winter months,” Efkamp said. “When we see that increase, we want to be able to let staff and visitors know that they need to take extra precautions to prevent the spread.”

Preventing the spread of an infection includes correcting misinformation and advocating for preventive measures and care.

“It is disappointing to see the increase of infections due to the lack of vaccinations,” Stuckey said. “Our goal is to protect everyone, and vaccinations are a great place to start.”

Vaccinations are tested and evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration before they are ever recommended for use. The main risks associated with vaccinations are mild side effects, such as fatigue, soreness or redness at the injection site. For infectious diseases that do not have a vaccination, such as strep throat or the common cold, hygiene is the best defense available.

“When preventing the spread through good hygiene practices, it is best to think about it as either a layered cake or dip,” Efkamp said. “Each layer is great on its own, but when it is combined together it becomes even better.”

So what are the layers? Hand hygiene, safe food handling and cleaning or disinfecting surfaces are the most common. Additional layers can and should be added to combat the spread of specific infections. These include covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.

“The more layers you have, the more protected you are,” Stuckey said. “An infection prevention team is just one of a hospital’s layers of protection and LMH Health’s Infection Prevention team is one of the strongest I’ve ever worked with.”

— Kade Han is the social media and digital communications specialist at LMH Health.