Infection Control Program

Submitted by Jane Futcher, RN, MA, Director of the Department of Clinical Services

In June 2004, the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care confirmed that they would provide dedicated dollars to the Ontario health units for permanent positions in infection control. This meant three new permanent positions in the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit. 

Two public health nurses and a program assistant were added to the staff of the Infection Control/Control of Infectious Disease Program. This was one of the first provincial responses to address the issues in the Naylor and Campbell Reports, following SARS.

An important first step in increasing our capacity to respond to an outbreak of infectious diseases was to revitalize the “Bug Busters” group. Bug Busters is a committee of the infection control staff of Long Term Care Facilities, hospitals, retirement homes, the Access Centre for Community Care and community health centres. In order to decrease the geography factor, two groups were formed, north and south. Although meeting times and agendas and learning content are similar, local issues (which will differ) will be shared for specific strategies to solve common problems. These groups meet four times a year and help ensure the latest standards are shared, trends are discussed and on-going education is provided.

As leaders for infection control in the community, public health inspectors and public health nurses will be more able to meet the local demands of health care professionals for in-service, training and resources for infection control.