About the Centre for Infection Prevention and Management
The UK-CRC-funded Centre for Infection Prevention and Management (CIPM) is tackling the issue of healthcare acquired infection via a multidisciplinary approach that includes organisational research, social marketing, epidemiology, laboratory-based programmes and education. The initiative, funded for 5 years, includes the creation of 13 new posts and 7 studentships and involves collaborations with the Health Protection Agency (HPA) as well as across the Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Life Sciences and the Business School.
Innovation Adoption & Behaviour Change
Work-stream one of four addresses the implementation gap which prevents or hinders the adoption of new technologies, behaviours or patterns of working within the NHS. Using instituitional theory this work-stream will deliver guidelines and briefs on how to diagnose such factors. It will also evaluate the effectiveness and sustainability of information based interventions in chaging behaviours relevant to infection control and antibiotic prescribing.
Network in Clinical Infection Diagnostics
Work-stream two establishes a network in clinical infection, molecular epidemiology and pathogenesis to improve diagnostics. Through its laboratory programme and collboration with the HPA, this stream will identify whether some features of Staphylococcus aureus and Clostridium difficile strains make them more invasive and transmissable than others. Clinical practice will be informed by this targetting of identified strains via rapid diagnostics allowing appropriate management and prevention strategies to be taken.
Infection Surveillance
Work-stream three will use existing databases within Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, the NHS, the HPA and elsewhere to develop predictive models which will enable identification of at rsik patients and effectively direct early intervention. This work-stream will also evaluate systems to monitor antibiotic resistance and prescribing practice which will provide information about front line antibiotic management decisions in support of antimicrobial policies.
Capacity Building
Work-stream four will develop a range of educaitonal courses and training. These will aim to develop a specifically skilled academic, clinical scientific and medical workforce to deliver clinical care, research and leadership in infection prevention. Working with the HPA regional laboratories, a number of National Infection Prevention courses for micro biologists and infectious disease doctors in training will be developed. Other new multiprofessional training will be developed for allied health professionals according to assessed need and demand.
Innovations from work-streams 2-3 will feed into work-stream 1 research on the adoption of new technologies/innovations. This will then inform implementation.Work-stream 4 will feed into all work-streams by building capacity in each area.
