Transmission-Based Precautions, Enhanced-Barrier Precautions and Outbreaks: Case-Based Unlocking of Infection Control Conundrum

An interdisciplinary panel of experts will discuss the principles and types of transmission-based precautions (TBP) and the use of enhanced barrier precautions (EBP) in nursing homes, along with implementation challenges and successes in the nursing facility. This will include reviewing the approach towards conducting risk assessments and developing policies and procedures related to EBP. During this interactive session, the panelists will facilitate problem-solving among participants by discussing real-world cases of active MDRO infections; MDRO colonization; and outbreak management of bacterial, viral, parasitic, and fungal infections. Through these cases, the role of local and state health departments, quality improvement organizations, and collaboration with hospitals and laboratories will be discussed. 

Learning Objectives

At the completion of this activity, learners should be able to: 

  • Recognize the principles of transmission-based precaution and enhanced barrier precautions to mitigate the risk of MDRO spread in the nursing facility.
  • Formulate standardized practices for implementing transmission and enhanced-based precautions in nursing facilities.
  • Assess the risk of transmission in potentially colonized and vulnerable residents and mitigate such risks as interdisciplinary teams.
  • Identify transmission proactively and be able to respond to outbreaks in their nursing facility.

Swati Gaur, MD, MBA, CMD

Swati Gaur, MD, MBA, CMD, is a medical director with Alliant Health Solutions and a medical director of post-acute care services at Northeast Georgia Health System. Dr. Gaur is certified in internal medicine, geriatrics, hospice, and palliative care medicine and is core geriatrics faculty for a residency program. She consults with large PALTC networks in the state on strategy, integration, and quality. She is a member of the COVID-19 Task Force and received the service award for her work during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Gaur is also a member of the Health Systems Innovation-Economics and Technology Committee of the American Geriatrics Society. She is a member of the Georgia DPH Strike Team and Georgia Antimicrobial Stewardship Committee. Dr. Gaur was named PALTmed's Medical Director of the Year for 2021-2022 and is past chair of the Infection Advisory Committee.

Muhammad Salman Ashraf, MBBS

Muhammad Salman Ashraf, MBBS, is an associate professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE. He serves as the medical director for the Nebraska DHHS Healthcare-Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance (HAI/AR) program. Dr. Ashraf is a member of PALTmed’s Infection Advisory Committee and State-Based Policy and Advocacy Subcommittee. He works on multiple projects to promote infection prevention and control and antimicrobial stewardship programs in long-term care facilities.

Amy A. Ward, MS, BSN, RN

Amy A. Ward, MS, BSN, RN, is a registered nurse with a diverse background in acute care nursing, microbiology, hospital epidemiology, and infection control.  She is board-certified in infection prevention and control and is a Fellow of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC). Ms. Ward holds a master’s degree in infection prevention and epidemiology.  She is passionate about leading and mentoring new and future infection preventionists in their career paths.

Kara Jacobs Slifka, MD, MPH

Kara Jacobs Slifka, MD, MPH, is an infectious diseases physician and medical epidemiologist in the Prevention and Response Branch within CDC’s Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion. In her role at CDC, she leads the long-term care team focused on improving infection prevention and containing and preventing the spread of infectious pathogens in the post-acute and long-term care settings through collaboration with health departments and partners, guidance and educational material development and outbreak response.

  • 1.5 CME
  • 1.5 CMD Management

Release Date: 02/28/2024   | Expiration: 02/28/2026

Credit Statements:

Accreditation: Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medical Association is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians. 

CME Designation: Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medical Association designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

CMD Credit Hours: This CME activity has been pre-approved by the American Board of Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine (ABPLM) for up to 1.5 management hours toward certification or recertification as a Certified Medical Director (CMD) in post-acute and long-term care medicine. Each physician should claim only those hours of credit actually spent on the activity. 

The CMD Program is administered by the ABPLM. Each physician should claim only those credit hours that he/she actually spent in the activity. For further information, contact ABPLM at 410-992-3117 or at cmd@paltmed.org.

Financial Disclosure Statement

The following speaker disclosed a relevant financial relationship: 

  • Muhammad Salman Ashraf, MBBS (Speaker): Received investigator-initiated research study grant, Merck & Co. Inc.

All relevant relationships have been mitigated by the Association. No one else in control of content disclosed any relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.

Components visible upon registration.